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The largest federal workers union says ‘untrained, armed’ ICE agents should not replace TSA

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America’s largest federal employee union says ICE agents are unqualified to replace TSA officers at US airports.

“ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security. TSA officers spend months learning to detect explosives, weapons, and threats specifically designed to evade detection at checkpoints — skills that require specialized instruction, hands-on practice, and ongoing recertification,” Everett Kelley, president of American Federation of Government Employees, said on Sunday in a statement posted online.

“You cannot improvise that. Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one,” he added.

The statement came one day after President Donald Trump said he would tap ICE agents to help with airport security as the partial government shutdown drags on.

“Likewise, I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to,”GET READY.” NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that the administration was actively working on a plan to integrate ICE agents into airports.

“We’ll have a plan by the end of today on what airports we’re starting with and where we’re sending them,” Homan said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

The partial government shutdown has left the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, unfunded as Congress debates its immigration enforcement policies.

TSA officers haven’t received a paycheck in five weeks, and more than 400 have quit since mid-February, according to The White House, compounding a staffing shortage. As a result, long wait times and massive lines are clogging airport security checkpoints.

On Sunday, Kelley said that many TSA agents have continued to show up to work despite the lack of pay. “They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be,” he said.

ICE has been at the center of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Fatal shootings sparked widespread protests against the agency earlier this year and contributed to the removal of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Kelley called on Congress to “stop playing politics and do their jobs.”

During an interview on Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said TSA officers, whose salaries start around $40,000 annually, can’t live on $0 paychecks.

“They’re going to take other jobs to put food on the table and pay the rent,” Duffy said on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” “I do think it’s going to get much worse, and as it gets worse, I think that puts pressure on Congress to come to a resolution.”

Disruptions to air travel were what ultimately pushed Congress to end the previous full government shutdown.




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Elon Musk warns Tesla employees over future of German megafactory ahead of union election

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Tesla’s sales in Europe are plummeting — and now Elon Musk has a warning for employees at the company’s German megafactory ahead of crucial union elections.

In an interview with Giga Berlin senior director Andre Thierig posted on X on Thursday, Musk said Tesla would “ideally” expand its only European gigafactory and start production of its battery cells, Cybercab robotaxi, and Optimus robot at the site.

Asked if he had any advice for the team at Giga Berlin to work toward that vision, Musk said any expansion was contingent on Tesla being free from interference from “outside organizations.”

“Things certainly get harder if there are outside organizations who are pushing Tesla in the wrong direction,” said Musk.

“It’s difficult to say that then we would expand, if we had outside organizations who were making things very difficult. We’re not going to shut down the factory, but we wouldn’t expand it either,” said the Tesla CEO.

The billionaire’s comments come ahead of a crucial vote at Tesla’s German factory next week, with powerful German union IG Metall pushing to gain control of the site’s work council — an elected body of employees required by local laws that negotiates pay deals and working hours with management.

German publication Handelsblatt first reported Musk’s comments, which it said were screened for employees on Wednesday.

Tesla clashes with union

The run-up to the election has been marked by fierce disputes between the union and Tesla’s executives. Earlier this month, Tesla filed a criminal complaint against an IG Metall representative, accusing them of secretly recording an internal meeting.

IG Metall, which has frequently clashed with Tesla over working conditions at Giga Berlin over the past few years, denied the allegation and responded with its own complaint accusing Thierig of defamation. The union said Thursday that both sides had agreed on a truce ahead of the works council elections.

The debate over Giga Berlin’s future comes as Tesla’s sales in Europe have collapsed. The US automaker saw registrations of its EVs fall nearly 38% in the EU last year, as it was hit by backlash over Musk’s political interventions and backing of German far-right party AfD.

In January, Tesla’s European sales dropped to just 8,000 units, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, less than half the number sold by Chinese rival BYD.

Musk also said in the interview that Tesla expects to receive approval to sell Full-Self-Driving driver assist technology in the Netherlands on March 20.




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I went to Trump’s State of the Union. This was the moment when the room’s mood shifted.

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In the House, the chamber is evenly divided between the Republican side and the Democratic side. But you wouldn’t know it from Tuesday night’s speech.

There were noticeably fewer Democrats on hand, with several seats appearing to be empty on their side of the aisle. Several Republicans, apparently taking advantage of the open space, even sat on the Democratic side.

Many of the Democratic women who did attend could be seen wearing white, a color associated with the suffragette movement.

Ahead of the speech, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries encouraged Democrats to either boycott the speech or sit in silent protest, an apparent effort to avoid the disruptions that marked last year’s speech.

Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont was among dozens of Democrats who opted to attend the “People’s State of the Union” — a rally sponsored by the liberal groups MeidasTouch and MoveOn that was held on the National Mall — instead of the speech.

“I want to be surrounded by positive people who are really thinking about how to bring this country together,” Balint told me. “I cannot normalize this anymore. I just can’t.”

One Democrat who chose to attend, Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, told me before the speech that he believes it’s “important for me to be there to see what the president has to say.”

“People can choose to do what they want, but I feel like it’s part of my job to show up,” Vasquez said.




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Trump kicks off State of the Union touting his economic agenda

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President Donald Trump is zeroing in on what he calls America’s “roaring economy.”

The president is giving his annual speech to a joint session of Congress. He opened the event focused on his administration’s economic agenda, especially inflation rates and consumer prices.

“I inherited a nation in crisis with a stagnant economy,” Trump told lawmakers, adding that his administration has driven down inflation and mortgage rates, along with energy prices. He touted an increase in jobs in the construction sector, the strong stock market, and how the administration “lifted a record number of Americans off food stamps” with their updated SNAP rules.

The president added that he and Republican allies delivered the “largest tax cuts in American history” in their latest budget bill, alongside promises to end taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security. And he mentioned Trump Accounts, a newly-launched federal investment account for children that will be available in July.

“A short time ago, we were a dead country,” he said. “Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

Throughout his second term, the Trump administration has leaned into affordability issues, especially high prices on consumer goods. The White House has touted budget changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tax breaks for middle- and higher-income Americans, and a recently-launched TrumpRx prescription platform. In some cases, the president has reached across the aisle for economic priorities, like a long-time Democrat-backed policy to rein in credit card rates.

As for the job market, growth has been the lowest in decades aside from recessions, and Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency took a sizable swing at the federal workforce. The administration hopes the pending appointment of former Wall Streeter Kevin Warsh to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will be a path toward lower interest rates in 2026, which could juice hiring — at the risk of growing inflation.

A YouGov and MarketWatch poll published February 24 found that 83% of Americans believe affordability has worsened or remained stagnant under Trump’s second term.

Trump is expected to speak for at least two hours this evening, covering topics like the Supreme Court tariff ruling, AI investment, immigration, and foreign policy.

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.




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The longest State of the Union addresses in history, ranked

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  • The American Presidency Project tracks the length of presidents’ State of the Union speeches.
  • Donald Trump holds the record for the longest address at 1:39:32 in 2025.
  • Trump and Bill Clinton have given eight of the top 10 longest State of the Union speeches.

Some US presidents have more of the gift of the gab than others.

The American Presidency Project has tracked the length of every president’s State of the Union address since 1964, with the timer beginning when the president opens with “Mr. Speaker” or “Madam Speaker.”

In the State of the Union, which is mandated by the Constitution, presidents typically highlight their administration’s accomplishments and lay out their legislative agenda in a speech before a joint session of Congress.

Presidents usually also introduce their legislative priorities in a joint address during their first year in office, a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan. Though this speech doesn’t technically qualify as a State of the Union, it is widely regarded as such and is included in the American Presidency Project’s dataset.

On average, State of the Union speeches from 1964 onwards have lasted 56 minutes and 24 seconds, according to the American Presidency Project. President Richard Nixon gave the shortest-ever State of the Union speech in 1972 at 28 minutes and 55 seconds.

President Donald Trump and President Bill Clinton have given eight of the top 10 longest State of the Union speeches in history. In 2025, Trump broke Clinton’s record when his joint address to Congress clocked in at 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds.

It’s a record Trump could break again when he delivers the State of the Union on February 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

Here’s how the top 10 longest State of the Union addresses stack up.

10. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s State of the Union address lasted 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 16 seconds.

President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1967 State of the Union address.

Warren K. Leffler/Library of Congress

9. President Joe Biden spoke for 1 hour and 13 minutes at his 2023 State of the Union address.


Joe Biden at the 2023 State of the Union.

President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address.

Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

8. President Bill Clinton’s 1998 State of the Union address spanned 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 43 seconds.


President Bill Clinton's 1998 State of the Union address.

President Bill Clinton’s 1998 State of the Union address.

Douglas Graham/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

7. In 2020, Trump gave a 1-hour, 18-minute, and 4-second State of the Union address the night before the Senate voted in his impeachment trial.


President Donald Trump at the 2020 State of the Union address.

President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

6. Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union speech clocked in at 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 40 seconds.


President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union address.

President Bill Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union address.

David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images

5. In 2018, Trump’s first State of the Union address ran for 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 32 seconds.


President Donald Trump's 2018 State of the Union address.

President Donald Trump’s 2018 State of the Union address.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

4. Trump spoke for 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 25 seconds at the 2019 State of the Union.


President Donald Trump's 2019 State of the Union address.

President Donald Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

3. Clinton’s State of the Union address in 1995 lasted 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 58 seconds, making it the third-longest in history.


President Bill Clinton's 1995 State of the Union address.

President Bill Clinton’s 1995 State of the Union address.

Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images

2. Clinton’s final State of the Union address in 2000 was also the second-longest at 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds.


President Bill Clinton's 2000 State of the Union address.

President Bill Clinton’s 2000 State of the Union address.

Douglas Graham/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

1. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress in 2025 was the longest on record at 1 hour, 39 minutes, and 32 seconds.


President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress.

President Donald Trump’s 2025 address to a joint session of Congress.

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images




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Brad Karp resigns from the Union College board after Epstein files fallout

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  • Brad Karp has resigned from Union College’s board of trustees.
  • This news comes after Karp’s resignation as chairman of Big Law firm Paul Weiss earlier this month.
  • Karp is one of the elite names that appear in the Epstein files.

Top US lawyer Brad Karp has resigned from Union College’s board of trustees as he faces scrutiny from his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Karp has been removed from the list of trustees on his alma mater’s website, from which he graduated in 1981.

Union College’s board chair Julie Greifer Swidler could not be reached for immediate comment. In a statement to local media, Greifer Swidler said Karp had resigned from the board.

“The Board of Trustees and College leadership look forward to continuing our efforts to prepare our outstanding students to lead with wisdom, empathy and courage, while ensuring that Union thrives for decades to come,” she said.

Karp’s departure from the board follows his resignation as chairman of the Big Law firm Paul Weiss last week.

Karp is among the names to appear in 3 million documents released by the Justice Department from its investigation into Epstein.

“Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm,” Karp said in a statement in Paul Weiss’ news release announcing the news.

This story is developing. Please check back fror updates.




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Washington Post union calls for Jeff Bezos to sell the paper after CEO resigns

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  • The Washington Post’s CEO, Will Lewis, departed the paper on Saturday following sweeping layoffs.
  • The Post’s union, in a statement, called Lewis’ exit “overdue.”
  • The union also called for Jeff Bezos, who owns The Post, to sell the publication.

Unionized staffers from The Washington Post issued a statement supporting the abrupt Saturday departure of the publication’s CEO, Will Lewis, and called for Jeff Bezos to sell the paper.

“Will Lewis’s exit is long overdue,” the Washington Post Guild’s statement, which was published on X, read. “His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it’s not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”

Representatives for the Post union did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

On social media, laid-off reporters celebrated the news of Lewis’ departure. Jada Yuan, a former culture writer at the Post, wrote that she had “never been more thrilled with a news alert.”

“Will Lewis, the absent, ineffective publisher of @washingtonpost has resigned. Or been fired,” she added. “It sucks that it happened after he couldn’t even show up on zoom to lay off 1/3 of the company. But the important thing is he’s gone.”

Lewis’ exit was announced Saturday afternoon, just days after sweeping layoffs hit the legacy publication, leaving hundreds of reporters out of work.

The publication’s unionized employees held a “Save the Post” rally earlier this week, focused on Bezos and Lewis, and said there were risks to press freedom and independent news if legacy publications like the Post are unable to continue operating.




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