Pritzker Opposes Potential National Guard Deployment at Airports

CHICAGO — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Thursday criticized President Donald Trump over a proposal to deploy National Guard troops at airports instead of funding Transportation Security Administration workers. Pritzker said the move would shift costs to taxpayers and disrupt travel operations. The governor argued that using National Guard troops in this way could create confusion for travelers and impact tourism while increasing government spending. State officials pointed to past federal deployments, including one in Illinois that cost about 25 million dollars while troops remained largely on base due to legal challenges. Officials also cited nationwide deployments in 2025 that cost nearly half a billion dollars across multiple cities. Pritzker continues to oppose federal action involving National Guard troops within states without approval from governors.