- U.S. air travel disrupted by a government shutdown.
- About 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay, straining staffing.
- If the shutdown continues, travel delays are expected to worsen.
AIR TRAVEL ACROSS the U.S. has been disrupted as a government shutdown halted airport operations. Transportation Security Administration officers are working without pay, causing staffing shortages and long lines at airports.
About 50,000 TSA officers are unpaid, according to Reuters. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed in mid-February, affecting operations, especially during peak travel periods. Absenteeism has further increased operational strain. Moreover, hundreds of TSA officers have even resigned since the shutdown began, worsening the system.
“Many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars — forcing them to call out sick from work,” TSA wrote on X. “At Houston Hobby Airport, callouts reached a staggering 55 percent over the weekend.”
In February, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion spending package, which President Donald Trump signed, mostly ending a four-day partial government shutdown. DHS funding was still withheld, however, as Democrats demanded reforms for the department’s controversial immigration enforcement measures.
The Trump administration has offered a concession on two demands, agreeing to expand the use of body-worn cameras for federal immigration enforcement agents and limit their activities at churches, schools, and hospitals, according to USA Today. However, the administration continues to refuse to ban masks for the officers.
The TSA screens millions of passengers each day and is central to U.S. aviation security. DHS oversees border security, immigration enforcement, and transportation safety. In previous shutdowns, TSA officers worked without pay, causing spikes in absenteeism and delays.
Airports from New York to Atlanta report two- to three-hour waits at security checkpoints, prompting airlines to warn Congress. Some small U.S. airports may also have to close due to a shortage of security screeners if a government funding impasse continues.
Passengers are facing delays and cancellations nationwide, with authorities urging travelers to arrive earlier. "We were on hold for three and a half hours all morning," Maeve Higgins, whose flight was canceled twice, told Fox News.
"The hotel is non-refundable, so we are just going to go there for as many days as we can get," said another traveler, Lauren Price, according to Fox News.
Airline executives warned of growing frustration among travelers.
"Americans—who live in your districts and home states—are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown," a group of airline CEOs said in a letter to Congress, Reuters reported.
Nationwide impact, outlook
The impact has been nationwide, with airports reporting long lines through the weekend and some waits lasting several hours, according to Reuters. Conditions improved at a few airports by Monday evening, but delays persisted in many areas. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, wait times approached two hours over the weekend before dropping to under 15 minutes on Monday.
Officials reported a national callout rate of 10.19 percent on Sunday, the highest during the shutdown, Reuters reported. At LaGuardia Airport in New York, wait times neared three hours, with callout rates over 25 percent. Similar staffing gaps were reported at John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports, Reuters reported.
Travel expert Clint Henderson of The Points Guy told Fox News Digital that as the shutdown continues, flight passengers can expect the situation to worsen.
"TSA workers are going without pay and some are quitting. Others are having to pick up gig work to pay the bills," he said, according to Fox News.
He said mornings are the busiest.
“Check local news sites and social media for long lines,” Henderson said. “Some airports post wait times on their homepages, so watch for updates. Flight passengers can request a prompt refund if the airline cancels the flight or if it is delayed and they reject an alternative booking.”
