Pritzker blasts Trump threat to deploy National Guard to airports instead of funding TSA

CHICAGO – On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Governor JB Pritzker denounced President Trump’s threat on Truth Social to deploy the National Guard to America’s airports instead of paying hardworking Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. After refusing no-strings-attached funding for TSA workers, President Trump is instead again threatening to federalize National Guard troops against the wishes of Governors and make taxpayers bear the brunt of the costs.

“Pulling National Guard members from their families, jobs, and communities to make a political statement is wrong, and doing so while refusing to pay TSA workers is indefensible,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Federalizing the National Guard will cause confusion for travelers, intimidate and deter tourists, and waste taxpayer dollars. Illinois will continue to stand against any illegal federal overarch and authoritarian efforts to militarize airports and public spaces.”

In Trump v. Illinois, the Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s attempts to deploy the National Guard in the state. Governor Pritzker has opposed federal threats and overreach to send military troops within U.S. borders against a state’s will. Democratic and Republican Governors have previously stood united in the principle that Governors must maintain full authority as Commanders in Chief of their National Guards to effectively protect operational readiness and America’s communities.

Costs to American Taxpayers

Sending in National Guard troops for federal immigration enforcement at airports would come with significant costs for taxpayers nationwide. Recent federal deployments demonstrate how quickly these operations become costly to taxpayers:

• According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Trump administration’s deployment to Chicago and Illinois cost taxpayers $25 million, even though troops remained largely on base due to legal challenges.
• Nationwide, similar Guard deployments across six cities cost taxpayers nearly half a billion dollars in 2025, illustrating the scale of federal spending required for these operations.

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