Optimism grows for possible funding deal as partial government shutdown continues

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the partial government shutdown approaches six weeks, there is optimism of a potential deal coming together.

"Everybody wants TSA to get paid. They all want this to move forward. They all want this to go ahead. But as we mentioned before, there's politics involved," explained Mark Guiod, Vice President of Board of Directors with Affordable Skies, a nonprofit focused on travelers in the aviation industry.

At the heart of the stalemate is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. While Republicans prefer it funded in full, Democrats have balked at providing additional money towards ICE and Customs and Border Patrol, as they call for reforms to those respective agencies.

"Democrats have made multiple attempts to pass funding for essential Department of Homeland Security operations, including TSA and FEMA, while continuing to push for accountability and reforms," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, a Democrat who represents North Carolina's 4th District.

"We all want accountability. We want law enforcement always to be accountable. But then again, we also want our country's laws respected, and it's unfortunate that some people don't feel our law should be respected and that people in the country illegally have more rights than actual citizens do," said Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican who represents North Carolina's 3rd District.

ICE is being funded from the One Big Beautiful Bill, but caught in the middle are TSA officers, who are working without pay.

"There is no reason why this agreement over the funding of two specific law enforcement agencies should jeopardize the salaries of federal workers who have nothing to do with the lives lost due to ICE or the masked agents who continue to sweep up hardworking immigrants across our communities," said Foushee.

"This personally is ridiculous. We need to get back to funding those who are keeping us safe. God forbid in the shortage something were to happen to an airplane or somebody, especially in this heightened security environment, something would get through that cost the loss of life," said Murphy.

On Saturday, a record-number of TSA officers called out, and several airports have seen extremely long lines at security.

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"We are grateful that today, RDU has not experienced significant delays at our security checkpoints, despite the challenges the situation creates. But the longer this federal shutdown continues, the greater the risk is of real operational impacts," shared Nina Szlosberg-Landis with the RDU Board of Directors.

The impasse comes just months before the November midterms, as Republicans maintain a slim majority in both the House and Senate.

"Both (political) parties get hurt when there's a shutdown. There's no positive benefit to one of the parties, but the Republicans are probably sensing that they're the incumbent party. Things aren't going well for them anyway. People have lots of questions about the economy, about the war, and so they're probably the ones who are going to be most blamed by this problem," said Mac McCorkle, a Political Science Professor at Duke University.

Senate Republican leadership has developed a plan to largely fund the Department of Homeland Security, except for a portion of immigration enforcement. However, any deal would require support from Democrats.

"Affordable Skies has already contacted our Legislature on the Hill here in Washington, DC, urging them to pass the funding for DHS. We understand there's a lot of political issues that are involved, but the challenge is these security agents on the frontlines for TSA are keeping us safe, and it's difficult when they become the political pawn in this type of issue," Guiod explained.