Washington: US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal to reopen the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) amidst ongoing long lines and delays at airports, as reported by NBC, citing unnamed sources.

According to Anadolu Agency, the proposal aimed to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS), excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Democrats have been unwilling to support ICE funding without implementing new limits on immigration enforcement. TSA, which operates under DHS, has been affected by this partial shutdown.

The initiative was initially presented to Trump by White House aides. Subsequently, Senate Majority Leader John Thune discussed it with Trump and later with other Republicans on Capitol Hill. Sources indicated that many Republicans view this proposal as a potential solution to the current impasse.

The plan suggested that Republicans could later finance ICE through a party-line reconciliation bill, which would bypass the need for Democratic support. The partial shutdown of DHS has persisted for over a month, with essential services like TSA continuing operation, albeit with employees working unpaid.

Republicans had hoped the proposal, backed by Trump and Thune, would attract Democratic support, given that Democrats had previously agreed to fund less controversial parts of DHS while ongoing immigration talks continued. Despite these efforts, Trump rejected the proposal, as evidenced by his comments on Truth Social.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his stance, stating: "I don't think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass 'THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.'" He urged Republicans to "Kill the Filibuster, and stay in D.C. for Easter, if necessary."

While speaking in Memphis, Tennessee, Trump reiterated his demands to link Homeland Security funding with a voting bill, emphasizing the importance of voter ID and proof of citizenship for Homeland Security matters.