Trump Pushes SAVE Act as Homeland Security Shutdown Disrupts US Airports

Six-week funding deadlock fuels political tensions and travel chaos

ANKARA:
The partial shutdown of the US Department of Homeland Security has entered its sixth week, while negotiations remain stalled in Washington. As a result, lawmakers continue to blame each other for the prolonged crisis.

At the center of the dispute lies immigration policy. Democrats are calling for major reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. In contrast, President Donald Trump has tied any funding agreement to the passage of the SAVE America Act.

SAVE Act becomes key point of contention

The SAVE Act, introduced by Republicans in 2024 and strongly backed by Trump, would require individuals to provide physical proof of US citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections.

According to Trump, this measure aims to prevent non-citizens from voting. Therefore, he is using the ongoing budget crisis to push for its approval.

At the same time, the president rejected a recent compromise proposal that sought to fund most of the department while delaying decisions on immigration enforcement budgets. Instead, he urged Republican lawmakers to remain in Washington and skip the Easter recess to resolve the issue.

Debate over Senate rules intensifies

Furthermore, Trump has called for changes to the filibuster, a Senate procedure that allows lawmakers to delay or block legislation unless 60 votes are secured.

By removing this rule, Trump hopes to pass both the SAVE Act and the DHS funding bill with a simple majority of 51 votes. This move would effectively bypass Democratic opposition and speed up the legislative process.

Airport disruptions worsen nationwide

Meanwhile, the shutdown has severely affected the Transportation Security Administration. Many officers continue to work without pay, leading to staff shortages across major airports.

Consequently, travelers are facing long security lines and significant flight delays, especially during the busy spring break season. Airports in Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and New York have reported major disruptions.

Political blame game continues

On the political front, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of “sabotaging” negotiations. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the situation as “very fluid,” noting that both parties are still working toward a possible resolution.
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