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About a dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were deployed to Dulles International Airport on Tuesday as President Donald Trump sought to reduce security-screening delays during the partial government shutdown.
Passengers on March 24, 2026, encountered an unusually heavy federal law enforcement presence in the main terminal. Roughly two dozen Department of Homeland Security police officers were also gathered nearby, several carrying long guns.
The deployment comes as Transportation Security Administration employees continue working without pay. Sick calls have contributed to lengthy security lines at airports nationwide, and at least 458 TSA workers have quit since the shutdown began.
Midday flights at Dulles were arriving and departing normally despite the increased police presence. The airport straddles Loudoun and Fairfax counties, about 28 miles from the White House.
ICE officers wearing khaki-green uniforms marked “ICE Police” walked slowly through the public terminal in small groups and occasionally passed through doors restricted to security personnel. At Trump’s request, they did not wear masks.
DHS police officers also circulated through the terminal. Most travelers remained focused on reaching their flights, though some stopped to photograph or record the officers.
Officials have not detailed what screening-related duties the ICE officers are performing. DHS and TSA have also declined to identify other airports receiving ICE personnel, citing operational safety.