Washington, March 31 (NationPress) On Monday, the White House attributed the escalating crisis in US air travel to Democratic lawmakers, stating that a funding gap at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has caused staff shortages, extensive wait times, and increasing security concerns at airports.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that “500 TSA officers resigned” in recent weeks, while “thousands more have been absent due to unprecedented sick calls linked to inadequate compensation.”

She indicated that this predicament has brought the aviation system “to its breaking point,” with wait times for security checks “surpassing three hours at major airports nationwide.”

“This has resulted in security delays exceeding three hours… creating nightmares for countless Americans,” she stated.

Leavitt remarked that the morale of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel has “deteriorated,” describing the situation as “an unacceptable, heightened security risk.”

She held Congressional Democrats accountable for voting “seven times against the funding of the Department of Homeland Security,” accusing them of engaging in “reckless political maneuvers.”

“Democratic members of Congress are willing to jeopardize your safety,” she asserted, linking the funding dispute to broader immigration policy disagreements.

The White House revealed that President Donald Trump signed a memorandum last week instructing officials to ensure TSA employees receive their pay and benefits despite the funding deadlock.

Leavitt stated that the President directed the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to utilize available funds “with a reasonable and logical connection to TSA operations” to compensate employees.

“This decisive and essential action… will ensure that our TSA workforce receives their well-deserved paychecks,” she noted.

Nevertheless, she cautioned that this solution is only temporary.

“True normalcy will not return until Democrats make the responsible choice to fully fund this agency,” she urged Congress to return to Washington and address the matter.

Leavitt emphasized that the administration sees this issue as a national security emergency, especially considering TSA officers' vital roles in passenger screening and airport safety.

This disruption coincides with a peak travel period, exacerbating the effects of staffing shortages and extensive wait times across major US airports.

The White House further connected the funding deadlock to its larger immigration enforcement strategy, asserting that opposition to DHS funding reflects dissent regarding deportation policies.

The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for overseeing border security, immigration enforcement, and transportation safety, making it integral to domestic security operations.

Funding disagreements regarding DHS have intermittently disrupted operations, but the current standoff has occurred alongside workforce attrition and operational strain at US airports.