Trump news at a glance: administration official warns of ‘dire situation’ at US airports ahead of World Cup
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Anyone planning to travel to a US city hosting World Cup matches this summer might want to leave now.
World Cup travelers could face long waits due to staffing shortages caused by the partial US government shutdown, with the head of US airport security warning of a “perfect storm”.
The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told Congress on Wednesday that airports across the country are experiencing the “highest wait times in TSA history” as staff absences soared. Workers had missed out on $1bn of pay as the DHS shutdown dragged into its sixth week.
Ha Nguyen McNeill warned that because it takes four to six months to train transportation security officers (TSOs), any new hires will not be ready to work checkpoints until well after the 2026 World Cup.
“This is a dire situation,” McNeill said. “We are facing a potential perfect storm of severe staffing shortages and an influx of millions of passengers at our airports for the World Cup games in less than 80 days.”
Acting head of TSA warns of ‘perfect storm’ with staffing shortage and World Cup
At a House homeland security committee hearing, Ha Nguyen McNeill said her agency has been shut down for 50% of the fiscal year so far – a stretch that includes last year’s record-breaking 43‑day lapse in federal funding. She told lawmakers that by Friday, TSA employees will have missed $1bn in paychecks as a result of the closures.
Prosecutors examined whether Trump disclosed classified map on plane after leaving office
Trump’s alleged disclosure of the map, as described in the memo, would mark the second known time he waved around a classified map in front of Wiles. The indictment charging Trump also described an incident where he showed a classified map to people at his Bedminster club in New Jersey.
Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own amid push for talks
Despite the apparent Iranian rejection of the US deal, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said discussions were continuing and were productive. She told reporters on Wednesday that “it became clear that Iran wants to talk and President Trump is willing to listen”.
Democrats shut down DHS funding deal from Republicans as standoff continues
The Senate remained deadlocked on Wednesday over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after Republicans proposed legislation that would restart all of its operations with the exception of those involved in deportations, but exclude reforms that Democrats want.
Democratic rising star extends ‘love’ after Hegseth pastor prays for his death
James Talarico, the Texas Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, has said he forgives Pete Hegseth’s pastor for praying for his death. On Tuesday, Texas’s popular Democratic nominee for a US Senate seat pushed back against comments from Brooks Potteiger, the defense secretary’s closest spiritual adviser, who said: “We want him crucified with Christ.”
US army raises upper age for recruits to 42 and scraps marijuana restrictions
People aged up to 42 can now enlist in the army, the army national guard and the army reserves, according to the new US army regulation, lifting the previous ceiling of 35 years old. The army has also removed restrictions upon recruits who have a single conviction for possession of marijuana or associated items such as bongs, pipes and spoons
Judge orders Trump officials to return Daca recipient deported to Mexico
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) to the US, ruling that her deportation to Mexico last month was a “flagrant violation” of the legal protections afforded to immigrants who arrived in the country as children.
Amid upheaval to the US vaccine advisory committee Robert Malone, the former co-chair and controversial figure who has opposed vaccines, says he has been pushed out and will not be involved in any future decisions. The move comes after a federal judge stayed the appointment of 13 members of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP), essentially invalidating their roles on the committee and the decisions they have made.
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