University Of Georgia, Quarterback, D.J. Shockley,Commencement Address

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 19, 2026

Former University Of Georgia Quarterback D.J. Shockley To Give 2026 Commencement Address

He led the Bulldogs to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2005.

Former University of Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley, who led the Bulldogs to an SEC (Southeastern Conference) Championship and a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2005, will give the commencement address at the school’s May graduation.

According to Dawg Nation, Shockley will be the second former Bulldogs football player to deliver a commencement address.

“It’s surreal this many years later that Georgia fans still love you and still want to take care of you and give you flowers,” Shockley said.

He felt the school had other choices that might have made more sense, including Matthew Stafford (2025 NFL MVP), Aaron Murray (holder of several school passing records), or Stetson Bennett (MVP of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship wins).

Shockley follows Billy Payne, who in 1991 was the first football player to give the address.

The former quarterback arrived at the school during the 2001 season, but lost the starting job to David Greene. Although head coach Mark Richt implemented a two-quarterback system in his first year, injuries decimated Shockley’s ability to start throughout his first three years. Instead of transferring, he stayed with the team and won the starting job in 2005.

Shockley led the No. 4-ranked, undefeated team to the Sugar Bowl. His 28 touchdowns were a school record at the time. Sadly, an injury forced Shockley to sit out the Sugar Bowl, leading to the team’s only defeat that year, a 14-10 loss to SEC rival Florida.

His former teammate, DeMario Minter, who had a locker right next to Shockley’s at Georgia, said, “He never once complained, never once got frustrated. I think that translates to what he’s doing now and the type of person he is.”

Shockley spent three years with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons but never played a game. He is currently the sports director at Fox 5 Atlanta and a sideline reporter for the Georgia Bulldog Radio Network.

The Bulldogs are the current SEC champions after beating Alabama 28-7 to win its sixth SEC title on Dec. 6, 2025.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 19, 2026

Gavin Newsom Lays Out New Orders In Hilarious Response To Trump Labeling Him ‘The President Of The United States’ While Trying To Insult Him

Trump trying to portray Newsom as “a low IQ person” and “dumb” for having dyslexia backfired after he mistakenly referred to him as “President of the United States.”

President Donald Trump’s attempt to insult California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s learning disability turned into a day of fun on social media after Trump mistakenly labeled the governor as “President of the United States.”

While taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office on March 16, Trump tried to portray Newsom as “a low-IQ person” and “dumb” after Newsom revealed he has dyslexia in his new book.

“I think a president should not have learning disabilities.”

Trump: Gavin Newsom has admitted he has learning disabilities. Honestly I am all for people with learning disabilities but not for my president. I think the president should not have learning disabilities. pic.twitter.com/fY0cAox9Ep
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 16, 2026

But it backfired when he referred to Newsom as “President of the United States,” sparking a hilarious response from the Democratic leader on X in all caps, mirroring Trump’s style.

“Now that I, Gavin C. Newsom, am officially President of the United States (Thank You, Donald!), I have many big announcements to make! First, every Trump executive order is null and void, Stephen Miller and every Trump goon is fired, and the Trump corruption probe is officially launched! Health care is now free for all Americans (No Measles!), and all moms get free childcare so we can have more babies! Also, cannabis is now legal, and abortion is back for women who want it,” he wrote.

“I will soon be banning all Ticketmaster fees and there will be no more commercials allowed during NBA and NFL games, as well as Bravo ‘Real Housewives’ shows (longer episodes!.) Every American family now gets a ‘tariff and gas spike refund’ to buy a cheap electric car! The country is now run by someone who can actually complete a sentence. America is now ‘hot’ because you a dyslexic President instead of a brain-dead one. Big upgrade!!!”

NOW THAT I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, AM OFFICIALLY PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (THANK YOU DONALD!), I HAVE MANY BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE! FIRST, EVERY TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NULL AND VOID, STEPHEN MILLER AND EVERY TRUMP GOON IS FIRED, AND THE TRUMP CORRUPTION PROBE IS OFFICIALLY…
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 17, 2026

Although he hasn’t made any official announcements, Newsom has been labeled a frontrunner in the 2028 presidential election, highlighting some initiatives he would pursue if he took the Oval Office. While he has some criticisms of his work in California, nothing compares to Trump’s critics. The governor, whom the president refers to as “new-scum,” is constantly being talked about by the 47th president. During a March rally in Kentucky, Trump made bold claims that Newsom’s political career is “over” due to his learning disability.

“I’m for everybody, but, you know, when it comes to being president, you have to be sharp,” Trump said to supporters, according to The Hill.

“You got to be sharp as hell.”

If Newsom is elected, he wouldn’t be the first president with dyslexia. The country’s 28th president, Woodrow Wilson, was believed to have a learning disability after reports claimed he once mentioned to his wife that he didn’t learn to read until age 9. Data shows that roughly one in five people has dyslexia.

But attacks on a person’s weakness are a known tactic for the indicted leader. During the 2016 Republican primary, he referred to Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted” and then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.”

Cruz is now one of Trump’s biggest supporters, while Rubio is his Secretary of State. “He attacks people he sees as weak or he attacks people he sees as a threat, and I think Newsom falls into the second bucket,” one GOP strategist said.

Alabama, Supreme Court Ruling,Police, ID

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 19, 2026

Alabama Supreme Court Ruling Says Police Can Demand ID When Approaching Individuals

The decision was condemned by legal rights advocates over the government power it asserts over civilians.

An Alabama Supreme Court ruling has dictated that police officers can demand ID when approaching individuals.

The ruling states that officers are allowed to ask for physical identification if they feel an individual gives an unsatisfactory oral answer. AL.com reported how the decision ruled against a local pastor, who sued an Alabama town and its law enforcement office after a police encounter.

The incident occurred in 2022, in which police arrested Pastor Michael Jennings after he watered his neighbor’s flowers. Another neighbor called the police on Jennings, citing that a “younger Black male” was on the property.

While officers pressed the church leader about his identity, he told them he was “Pastor Jennings” and lived across the street. The answer, however, did not please the officers.

After the man refused to give them his ID, law enforcement arrested him on charges of obstructing government operations, which were later dismissed. The woman who initially called 911 also confirmed Jennings as a neighbor.

Feeling wronged, Jennings sued the town of Childersburg and the officers for false arrest, leading to a long legal battle. Although a district judge dismissed his case in 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed the decision the next year.

The case then proceeded to the Alabama Supreme Court, while several civil rights organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center, filed briefs in support of Jennings. However, the court ruled 6-3 that officers may arrest someone who refuses to provide sufficient identification.

Justice Terry Sellers cited that getting correct identification is a “crucial part” of the stop-and-identify law, also known as a Terry stop. Sellers defended the officers’ actions, stating that officers can request or demand physical identification if they deem a person’s oral answer as unsatisfactory.

According to WVTM13, Sellers wrote that the law “does not exclude from its purview a request for physical identification when a suspect provides an incomplete or unsatisfactory response to an officer’s demand to provide his or her name and address and an explanation of his or her action.”

The judgment now sets a legal precedent that officers can not only request physical proof of one’s identity but also arrest individuals if they fail to provide such evidence. Legal rights advocates condemned the decision, with Matthew Cavedon, director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice, calling the ruling a “significant expansion of government power over people.”

Now, an Alabamian under suspicion by a police officer must stay prepared to show proof of identity or face arrest.

Cavendon added, “The significance now for Alabamians is if an officer’s not satisfied with whatever answer you give, I sure hope you’ve got your driver’s license or passport on you.”

by Kandiss Edwards

March 19, 2026

Veterans Deported, Too: ICE Crackdown Sweeps Up Those Who Served

For immigrants, service alone does not guarantee a smooth transition into citizenship.

The Trump administration continues to try to carry out mass deportations nationwide. And veterans are not immune, Military.com reports.

As of December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security claims 2.5 million immigrants have been returned to their countries of origin. Military service is often a reliable path to citizenship.

According to Immigration Detentions of Military Family Members Spark Lawmaker Probe, 115,000 noncitizen veterans reside in the United States. Service alone does not guarantee the smooth transition into citizenship. Multiple service members have faced deportations despite decades of residency in the United States due to the stringent requirements of citizenship.

Requirements:

You must be at least 18 years old unless applying based on military service.
Permanent resident (Green Card holder), typically for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.
Continued residence in the U.S. for the required period.
Residence in the state or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services district where you apply for at least 3 months.
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak basic English, unless exempt due to age or disability.
Applicants must pass civics and reading test covering U.S. history and government. Depending on your application date, you may take the 2008 or 2025 version of the test.
You must demonstrate good moral character for the required period, including honesty, law-abiding behavior, and compliance with tax obligations. USCIS may also consider community involvement and minor infractions.

Minor exceptions are made for military members including length of residency, age, and testing requirements. The need for good moral character remains a constant. Unfortunately, for multiple veteran removals, it is the requirement that has been unmet.

In the case of Godfrey Wade his criminal past bars him from living in the country he fought for. The Jamaican-born U.S. Army veteran was detained by ICE for 5-months before he was deported this year. Though Wade has lived in the States for 50 years he has been convicted of minor crimes including a 2007 bounced check and a 2006 simple assault charge. While Wade sat in ICE custody his attorney filed an appeal to overturn his 2014 removal order. He was deported before receiving full due process.

Additionally, 39-year-old Venezuelan immigrant Jose Barco was removed from the U.S. Despite paying taxes for years and earning a Purple Heart, Barco’s criminal record mandated his removal. Barco was taken into ICE custody In April 2025.

In 2008, the veteran was convicted of two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of menacing after shooting into a crowd of teenagers and wounding 19-year-old Ginny Clemons according to NPR.

Taking up arms on behalf of the United States is a selfless act of sacrifice. While citizenship is seen as an honor and privilege to those deserving, many wonder if more flexibility should be allowed in the case of veterans.

Idris Elba, Sabrina Elba,Eco-City Project, Sherbro Island, Sierra Leone

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 18, 2026

Idris And Sabrina Elba Launch Eco-City Project On Sherbro Island, Sierra Leone

Idris and Sabrina Elba hope their efforts serve as a model for development projects across Africa.

Idris Elba and Sabrina Elba are expanding their philanthropic efforts with a new investment focused on ecological sustainability and economic growth on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone.

The couple hopes the initiative will serve as a blueprint for development projects across the continent, National Geographic reports. With Idris’ father from Sierra Leone and Sabrina’s mother from Somalia, Sabrina Elba has spoken about her passion for challenging the stigmas tied to being African—something she experienced growing up in Canada.

“We wanted to see Africa represented the way that we knew it to be,” she said. “We wanted to change the storytelling.”

Idris Elba, who grew up in London, said he made a mental note to visit Sherbro Island after first hearing about it years ago from a close family friend who believed it had the potential to become a world-class holiday destination.

“At that juncture, I was just like, Oh, OK, that sounds interesting,” the Golden Globe winning-actor said.

It was during a 2019 trip to Sierra Leone, while serving as ambassadors for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), that Idris Elba had a pivotal realization. The Elbas saw an opportunity to create something more lasting and meaningful than a luxury getaway—aiming, as Sabrina Elba put it, to shift the narrative “from one of aid to one of investment.”

Idris Elba had already been expanding his philanthropic work, supporting education and hunger-relief efforts in Africa and advocating for at-risk youth in the U.K.—efforts that recently earned him a knighthood. After visiting Sherbro Island, he and Sabrina launched the Elba Hope Foundation to unify their initiatives, including programs empowering small-scale farmers across Sierra Leone.

The effort focuses on sustainable farming, cooperative development, and access to credit for cocoa and cashew farmers, work that, as executive director Marsha Reid noted, requires not just funding but “time and training and education and investment.”

Their work on the island centers on supporting sustainable farming that protects the environment while giving rural communities the tools to support themselves, Sabrina Elba said.

Since then, the Elbas’ efforts on Sherbro Island have expanded to include the Hope Power Project, a three-year initiative aimed at electrifying and wirelessly connecting the island. They see it as a foundation for future green development—ultimately transforming Sherbro into a self-sustaining, renewable-powered “eco-city.”

“Do we want to continue throwing concrete [up] and putting calluses on our world, or do we want to build structures and cities that actually nourish our world?” Idris Elba said. “What are we going to teach the next generation about how to build and develop? And can Sherbro be a blueprint for that?”

Through their efforts, Idris Elba hopes to show other public figures like himself how “you become more than just this celebrity putting their name to something—you become a member of a working engine.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 18, 2026

Afroman’s Day In Court: Why the Artist is Being Sued for Turning a Police Raid Into a Hit

The Ohio police officers are suing him after he made a music video using the footage of the raid that shows their likeness.

Joseph Foreman, better known to the world as Afroman, gave testimony during the second day of a trial on March 17, defending himself against Ohio police officers who raided his home in 2022. The department sued him in 2023 after the entertainer used footage from the raid in a song and music video produced after the incident.

The recording artist, whose biggest hit was the weed anthem, “Because I Got High,” has been taken to court by several Adams County Sheriff’s deputies. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, they say that Afroman used video footage from his security cameras of the August 2022 raid that took place at his home in a music video without getting permission from the officers seen in the video. The “salty” cops alleged that they have suffered humiliation and received death threats.

The deputies claim that Afroman’s music and social media posts have caused “humiliation, ridicule, mental distress, embarrassment and loss of reputation.”

The song in question is titled “Lemon Pound Cake.”

After posting the song’s video, it went viral on his Instagram page, showing the deputies breaking down his door and entering with their rifles drawn.

However, he faults the officers for raiding his home in error, stating they wouldn’t have been there if they hadn’t made that mistake.

“All of this is their fault,” Foreman said during the court hearing. “If they hadn’t wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit, I would not know their names, they wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs … my money would still be intact.”

“They’re suing me for their mistake,” he said.

Several officers have given testimony, including Deputy Lisa Phillips, who broke down on the stand. Prosecutors played the video during the second day of trial, and she claims she has been harassed by people who question her gender and sexuality.

As the video plays, she is seen crying on the stand.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by La’Janeé | The Docket Diva (@_lajanee_)

Foreman feels that he has the right to make videos and posts using the footage that shows the deputies breaking down his door, causing damage, and allegedly stealing money during the raid.

This clip from Afroman’s testimony is his biggest courtroom hit so far.

You can find many more on my TikTok and Instagram. https://t.co/FkcLY3c9sQ pic.twitter.com/xO9xNA9Pk5
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) March 18, 2026

He stressed the song and music video was a matter of his free speech. “Fact, they never should have came to my house in the first place. Fact, if they hadn’t came to my house, they wouldn’t have put themselves on the video camera and in my music career. All of this is their fact. All of this is their fault. And they have the audacity to sue me,” he testified.

He added, “Under the circumstance that I got freedom of speech after they run around my house with guns and kick down my door. I got the right to kick a can in my backyard, use my freedom of speech, turn my bad times into a good time. Yes, I do.”

The police raid failed to turn up any drugs or illegal paraphernalia, and the artist stated that they stole $400 in cash. Still, a police investigation found the claims unfounded and cleared the deputies.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 18, 2026

Mamdani Administration Pulls City-Funded Legal Support For Eric Adams In Sexual Assault Lawsuit

“Of course, Mayor Mamdani has full faith and confidence in the Corporation Counsel’s independent judgment and in his ability to reach the appropriate and just legal conclusions."

Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to lose city-funded legal support in his sexual assault case involving a former colleague.

On March 17, Mamdani’s administration announced plans to withdraw city-funded legal representation for Adams, who faces allegations of sexually assaulting a transit police colleague roughly 30 years ago, Politico reports. Corporation Counsel Steve Banks said newly surfaced evidence led to the decision on the case.

“Based on my review of new evidence since the original decision to represent him was made, I have determined that he is not entitled to representation by the City in this matter,” Banks said. “Accordingly, the Law Department has asked the court to permit our office to withdraw from representing the former mayor.”

The lawsuit, filed while Adams was still in office, accuses him of sexually assaulting Lorna Beach-Mathura in 1993, when he was a police officer. Beach-Mathura alleges he sought a sexual favor in exchange for helping advance her career. Adams has strongly denied the claim and has said he does not recall meeting her.

A motion from the city’s Corporation Counsel to withdraw from the civil case argues that Adams is not eligible for city-funded legal support because he was “not acting within the scope of his City employment” at the time of the alleged assault. Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said the decision was “made independently by the Corporation Counsel, as required by law,” adding that Mamdani neither directed the review nor influenced its outcome.

“Of course, Mayor Mamdani has full faith and confidence in the Corporation Counsel’s independent judgment and in his ability to reach the appropriate and just legal conclusions,” Pekec said.

The case against Adams was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily expanded the window for survivors to bring claims. The accuser first filed in November 2023, just before the law expired, and later submitted a detailed lawsuit. At the time, the city’s Corporation Counsel called the allegations “ludicrous” and said it expected Adams to be fully vindicated in court.

by Ahsan Washington

March 18, 2026

Happy Birthday Bayard Rustin, The Architect Of Civil Rights!

As a champion of the movement, Rustin should be aptly celebrated as a Black history maker

Bayard Rustin and his contributions to the modern civil rights movement deserve all the praise. The godfather of the movement was born on March 17, 1912, and should be celebrated as a history maker, particularly as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Bayard Rustin gained notoriety as the main organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Yet he worked mostly out of public view to transform protests into government policies, which led to federal progress in civil rights, labor equality, and economic justice. Rustin’s work remains distinctive. He organized activism and policy-based strategies, created democratic legislation for millions, yielding tangible results.

March On Washington Policy Demands (1963)

Rustin, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King Jr. led the August 1963 March on Washington to demand civil rights and economic reforms from the federal government. The march functioned as a policy initiative to press the government through its demonstration. The federal government received demands for substantial civil rights laws, federal employment programs, higher minimum wages, and school desegregation. The demands created the legislative environment that produced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Freedom Budget For All Americans (1966)

The Freedom Budget for All Americans was a 1966 proposal by Rustin and Randolph, which presented an extensive economic strategy to eradicate poverty in the United States. The decade-long plan aimed to achieve full employment while establishing minimum income guarantees, expanding public works projects, creating affordable housing, and expanding access to healthcare. Rustin stressed that civil rights and economic justice were linked.

Journey Of Reconciliation (1947)

Members of the Congress of Racial Equality and Rustin led an interracial Freedom Ride in 1947 to test desegregation laws. The Upper South region of North Carolina and Virginia served as the site for the journey. The main goal was to implement Supreme Court decisions, which banned segregation in interstate transportation. Rustin served as the essential leader who directed this initial direct-action campaign. The arrest of participants revealed the gap between legal provisions and actual implementation. The method used during the Journey of Reconciliation became the foundation for the 1960s Freedom Rides.

March On Washington Movement & Executive Order 8802 (1941)

In 1941, Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph organized a mass protest that threatened to disrupt federal employment. Their objective was to eliminate racial discrimination in defense industry employment. Rustin’s activism led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in defense industries and established the Fair Employment Practices Committee, one of the first federal measures against employment discrimination.

Prayer Pilgrimage For Freedom (1957)

On May 17, 1957, the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom took place at the Lincoln Memorial as a national demonstration led by Bayard Rustin, Ella Baker, and A. Philip Randolph. The event focused on securing federal enforcement of Supreme Court desegregation rulings while drawing attention to voting rights and the need for legal enforcement. The event, which occurred before the 1963 March on Washington, established essential national legislative foundations by focusing on core issues. Through his detailed logistical and strategic planning, Rustin developed the mass demonstration model, which created significant legislative changes.

Labor Integration & Workforce Development Initiatives (1960s–1970s)

During the 1960s and 1970s, Bayard Rustin worked with labor unions to create programs that integrated unions while increasing skilled job opportunities for minorities. The initiatives took place in major U.S. cities to eliminate racial wage and employment disparities. The collaborative goal was to promote minority hiring, alongside training programs and access to the apprenticeship pipeline. Rustin believed that authentic equality needed to happen through labor inclusion because high-paying industries provided economic mobility.

Institutionalizing Nonviolent Direct Action

Rustin guided Martin Luther King Jr. to develop nonviolent resistance as a political strategy. Rustin trained activists and led movement leaders in directing demonstrations against lawmakers, using Gandhian principles. Between 1940 and 1960, the Nonviolent Direct Action (NDA) strategy framework enabled nationwide implementation, transforming moral protests into legal policy changes.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 18, 2026

Umm, Gross?! First Cousin Marriage Ban Fails, Leaving Door Open For Practice To Continue

Believe it or not, 16 states have no restrictions.

For Florida first cousins who are considering living in holy matrimony, there is still a chance after a bill banning the practice failed to pass in the state Senate, WFLA reports.

HB-733 would prohibit incestuous marriage from being recognized for any purpose in Florida, but failed to pass by lawmakers, making it one of 16 states where marrying first cousins is still legal. The legislation lays out what constitutes collateral consanguinity, meaning a man would not be able to marry any woman who is labeled his sister, aunt, or niece. The same goes for a woman, who cannot marry a man she is related to, listed as her brother, uncle, or nephew, listed under the same definition.

While a majority of the United States has incestuous marriages banned, the Sunshine State is keeping the practice alive. However, some lawmakers hope the bill will circle the block in 2027 and pass once and for all.

“I think we need to do the right thing for Floridians here. I think it should come back, whether it’s a standalone bill, or whether it’s tagged onto some other bill. Not really sure. We’ll have to see,” State Republican Rep. Dean Black told Action News Jax.

Black was surprised that the bill failed to pass after he didn’t receive any pushback when he included the measure in a broader Department of Health bill, but that wasn’t the case.

“There was a time when I think first cousin marriages were allowed because population densities were not great, and you know it was hard to find a mate back when Florida was a wilderness,” the politician said.

“During the days of the Civil War—hundreds of years ago—cousin marriage was common, even being legal in 34 states. But that’s not the case these days. There are plenty of people here, and there are plenty of people you can find to be your lifelong partner without looking to your first cousin,” Black continued.

Nine other states mostly ban the practice but have exceptions in place, such as one partner being infertile, both partners being above a certain age, or if the cousins are of the same sex. But Florida, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Georgia are among the 16 states with no restrictions.

“I’ll leave things in New York and California to them. They have their own way of looking at things, but I think we need to do the right thing for Floridians here,” Black said.

The lawmaker explained one of the reasons the bill failed was disagreements over legislative elements that created an impasse. The bill died as the session’s clock expired.

Black said cousin lovers may want to prep their proposals now, as he hopes the bill makes its way to a session again.

”So, yes. I think it should come back, whether it’s a standalone bill, or whether it’s tagged onto some other bill. Not really sure,” he said. “We’ll have to see.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 18, 2026

Trump Official Warns Airports May Shut Down Entirely If Funding Block On TSA Persists

Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl appeared on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" to explain the grim possibility ahead.

A Trump official has warned that some airports may shut down entirely if Transportation Security Administration (TSA) remains unfunded.

This current risk stems from the partial government shutdown, which mainly impacted agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These agencies include TSA and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the latter’s funding being the point of contention for U.S. lawmakers.

As Democrats and Republicans remain at a standstill over ICE agents’ requirements, TSA agents have stood as collateral in the fight. With the shutdown headed toward its fifth week, 50,000 TSA have gone without pay, with more calling out to seek other work or leaving the profession entirely.

The record-breaking 43-day shutdown resulted in flight reductions across the U.S. TSA absences have already reach similar highs, with over a third of Atlanta-based officers calling out at the proclaimed world’s busiest airport.

There have also been hours-long waits at major airports such as Dallas and Atlanta. As airports struggle to keep operations as normal as possible, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl appeared on Fox News’ Fox and Friends to explain the grim possibility ahead.

“As the weeks continue, if this continues, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports—particularly smaller ones if callout rates go up,” said Stahl as reported by CNBC.

More TSA agents are also expected to call out, disrupting air travel even more. Some airlines, such as Delta, have even had to call ground stops over “operational purposes” amid TSA shortages and weather-related delays at its Atlanta hub. While Democrats and Republicans have issued solutions to reinstate funding, neither have agreed on how to fund the DHS.

Now, Congress is on the clock to come to a resolution before U.S. airports have no choice but to shut down operations.