The facts matter, and they tell a story quite different from the one being spun on cable news this weekend.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stepped into the national spotlight Sunday with a bold claim about airport security that does not hold up under scrutiny. The mayor suggested that President Donald Trump could simply hire more Transportation Security Administration agents rather than deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist with mounting airport delays.
There is just one problem with that assertion. The president does not possess that authority.
During his television appearance, Frey painted a picture of misplaced priorities. “When he says that he’s going to do security like no one has ever seen before, he doesn’t actually mean that he’s going to keep people secure,” the mayor stated. “If the goal here was safety at airports, he could hire out more TSA agents that do an incredible job at keeping our airports safe.”
The mayor’s comments came as he criticized the administration’s decision to deploy ICE agents to airports nationwide, where travelers have faced increasingly long security lines. He went further, suggesting the president’s true aim was to “terrorize people” rather than address legitimate security concerns.
Yet the constitutional reality remains unchanged. The president cannot unilaterally hire federal employees without congressional approval and appropriated funding. Several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, including the TSA, currently operate under a funding shutdown now stretching into its 37th day. Congressional Democrats have tied funding negotiations to demands for immigration enforcement reforms, creating the very impasse that prevents new hiring.
What the president can do, and has done, is deploy members of one federal agency to supplement another. That authority exists independent of the appropriations process. While ICE agents lack the specialized training TSA screeners receive, the deployment represents one of the few tools available to an executive branch hamstrung by legislative gridlock.
The mayor was not corrected during his appearance, allowing the misleading claim to stand unchallenged before a national audience.
Frey continued his critique by arguing that if the administration truly prioritized safety, it would work with cities to hire additional police officers and build necessary infrastructure. “But of course, we all know that’s not the goal,” he added, before warning that creating fear in airports undermines the very commerce the president claims to champion.
The situation grows more dire by the day. Thousands of TSA agents have gone without paychecks for more than a month. Airports across the country report massive security lines as staffing shortages compound. Some officials warn that smaller airports may face closure if the funding crisis continues.
This episode illustrates a troubling trend in our national discourse. Political figures make claims that sound reasonable on their face but crumble under examination. The separation of powers exists for good reason, and the power of the purse belongs squarely with Congress. No president, regardless of party, can spend money that has not been appropriated.
The American people deserve better than political theater masquerading as policy discussion. They deserve leaders who understand how their government actually functions and who speak truthfully about the constraints and possibilities within our constitutional system.
As this shutdown drags on, travelers suffer the consequences while politicians point fingers. The facts remain stubbornly unchanged, waiting for anyone willing to acknowledge them.
Related: Senate Republicans Block Democrat Attempt to Fund TSA Separately From Broader DHS Deal
