Democrats demanding ICE reforms lose airport escorts in shutdown they triggered

By Fox News · Fox News

The Trump administration is escalating pressure on Senate Democrats as negotiations to end the partial government shutdown remain at a standstill. The partial government shutdown, which is only affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) , entered its second week on Monday. So far, the impacts of the shutdown have been minimal, but the pain could be coming soon as the agency activates "emergency measures" while the shutdown drags on. DHS announced over the weekend it would be making tweaks to some of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) functions that could lead to longer wait times for passengers and lawmakers alike. DHS SHUTDOWN LEAVES LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THEIR OWN AMID EXTREME WEATHER, EXPERT WARNS "Shutdowns have real-world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. "The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians." The agency announced that, for now, TSA PreCheck would stay operational after a back-and-forth over whether to continue the program during the shutdown. The program is used by more than 20 million people to speed up wait times at airports across the country, according to the agency. However, courtesy escorts for members of Congress have been suspended. "At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public," a spokesperson for the agency told Fox News Digital. "As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly." DHS SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS WITHOUT PAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO AIRPORTS AND DISASTER RESPONSE Much of the real pain that could come from a prolonged shutdown will have to do with TSA agents missing paychecks. That became a major factor during the his…