The White House reported chaos at American airports

Chaos has erupted at US airports: long lines are forming and flights are experiencing serious delays due to the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

This was reported by the White House on the social network X.

"This chaos at American airports is a direct result of the Democrats' shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security," the statement reads.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in an interview with ABC, urged employees to return to work, promising that they would "be paid for all missed time." "Some airports are missing up to 30-40% of their staff, effectively bringing operations to a halt," he emphasized.

At the same time, the head of the department urged people to look at the issue more broadly. "Democrats allowed, you know, 12-15 million people to enter, and they were not properly vetted. Where are these people now? And do they want to harm us at a time when we are in conflict with Iran? That is a real question," the secretary said.

The partial shutdown of the US Department of Homeland Security began in mid-February 2026. It affected approximately 13% of federal employees due to disagreements in the Senate over the budget. Democrats are insisting on restrictions for the immigration agency ICE following a series of incidents, but negotiations with the White House have reached a deadlock.