Sean Duffy tops the headlines as he’s named the 20th U.S. secretary of transportation (Jan 2025). Former TV personality, attorney, politician. What a ride.
As of April 3, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security remains partially unfunded since February 14, causing over 100,000 DHS employees, including TSA workers, to go unpaid. The shutdown has led to severe staffing shortages at airports, with TSA officers resigning and calling out sick, resulting in long security lines and missed flights. President Trump deployed paid ICE agents to assist TSA with crowd control, but congressional deadlock over DHS funding and immigration enforcement reforms continues, prolonging travel disruptions nationwide.
Major US airlines and cargo companies are calling on Congress to pass legislation ensuring TSA officers and other aviation workers are paid during government shutdowns. The ongoing partial shutdown has led to thousands of unpaid workers quitting, causing long security lines and travel disruptions ahead of spring travel peaks.
Travelers at US airports are experiencing hours-long security delays due to a partial government shutdown, with TSA staffing shortages and increased use of private security. Digital tools like CLEAR see surges in interest, but service disruptions persist at several major hubs.
The FAA evacuated Newark Liberty's control tower after a burning smell from an elevator. The disruption lasted less than an hour with no injuries. This follows a recent chemical odor incident at multiple airports and a fatal crash at LaGuardia involving a collision with a fire truck.
A fatal crash at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night involved an Air Canada jet colliding with a fire truck on the runway. Two pilots died, and dozens were injured. The incident followed staffing and communication issues in the control tower during a night shift with reduced controllers. The NTSB is investigating.
In March 2026, President Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to over a dozen major U.S. airports to assist with severe TSA staffing shortages caused by a Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. The deployment aimed to ease long security lines but sparked controversy over ICE's role and effectiveness, highlighted by a forceful arrest at San Francisco International Airport.
A Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilots and injuring over 40. The crash occurred during landing after the fire truck responded to another incident. Investigations are ongoing, and the airport remains closed.
A crash at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, involving an Air Canada jet and a fire truck, resulted in two pilot deaths. Investigations focus on staffing, control tower procedures, and ground vehicle movements amid ongoing safety reviews.
The US Department of Transportation has identified issues with non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, prompting investigations into states' licensing practices. Federal officials warn that continued non-compliance could lead to significant funding losses, as they seek to remove unqualified foreign drivers from US roads. The effort intensifies following recent fatal crashes involving immigrant truckers.
Spirit Airlines has ceased operations and cancelled all flights, prompting major carriers — United, American, JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, Frontier and Allegiant — to offer temporary price-capped or reduced "rescue fares" and other help for stranded passengers; Spirit is promising automatic refunds for card purchases while bankruptcy proceedings will determine other reimbursements.
AP News reports that HBO's The A List collects 15 stories from Asian and Pacific diasporas, featuring figures from Connie Chung to Tammy Duckworth. The documentary prioritizes intimate, unscripted interviews about identity and belonging within an expansive AAPI landscape.
Fuel costs have surged for airlines amid disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, pushing jet fuel above $200 per barrel and prompting carriers to raise fares, cut routes, and consider capacity reductions. Spirit Airlines has shut operations; Cirium data show widespread schedule reductions into summer, with US carriers hardest hit.
Leading climate and transport groups are urging ministers to ban non-essential private jets and lower motorway speeds to blunt a looming jet fuel shortage amid geopolitical tensions. The call follows warnings that supplies could tighten this summer unless demand falls and energy sources diversify.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said the department is drawing up plans to halt customs processing at international airports in sanctuary cities, signaling a potential disruption to major hubs including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has also argued that sanctuary jurisdictions hinder immigration enforcement and may prompt changes to travel safety procedures.
A bus crash on I-95 in Virginia has left multiple deaths and injuries. Investigations are underway, with questions raised about fatigue, driver history, and the need for mandatory safety tech on commercial buses.
The Knicks host the Spurs for Game 3 of the NBA Finals and face celebrity attention, security tightness, and a stadium divided by fans and politics. Trump’s attendance has drawn boos and debate, while New York eyes a possible first championship since 1973.