Additional Coverage:
- Travelers are waiting hours at airport security as unpaid TSA agents stop showing up for work (businessinsider.com)
Airport Security Nightmare: Shutdown Causes Hours-Long Waits Across US
Travelers nationwide faced unprecedented delays at airport security checkpoints on Sunday, with some waiting up to three hours as the ongoing partial government shutdown led to severe staffing shortages within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The disruption, fueled by TSA agents facing their first full missed paychecks, has created a chaotic start to the week for many passengers.
Images and videos shared on social media painted a grim picture of the situation. Aubry Killion, an anchor for WDSU in New Orleans, posted a video on X showing a security line at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) extending all the way into the parking garage. MSY issued a statement acknowledging the “longer-than-average lines” due to the federal shutdown’s impact on TSA staffing.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) also experienced significant congestion, with wait times reaching an hour. A photo shared on Reddit depicted massive crowds at the Georgia hub. An ATL spokesperson attributed the delays to a combination of “residual impacts from two ground stops issued on Friday” and “current TSA staffing constraints,” advising travelers to arrive early.
Houston Airports, overseeing William P. Hobby (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) airports, issued a stark warning, urging HOU passengers to arrive “at least 4 to 5 hours before their flight” as TSA wait times could “extend beyond 180 minutes.” The airport also noted that TSA PreCheck services might be unavailable at HOU due to limited staffing.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously announced the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry due to the shutdown, though it later clarified that individual airports would make such decisions. Lauren Bis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, highlighted the dire financial situation of TSA agents, stating they “received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages.”
TSA agents, as federal workers under DHS, are directly impacted by the partial shutdown that began in January. This mirrors the situation during last year’s 43-day government shutdown, when TSA agents went weeks without pay. A shortage of air traffic controllers in 2025 ultimately played a critical role in forcing a resolution to that shutdown.
The current funding impasse stems from the US Congress’s failure to reach an agreement in February to fund DHS, partly due to Democratic demands for changes to the department’s immigration enforcement policies.
Beyond New Orleans, Atlanta, and Houston, other major airports also felt the crunch. Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina reported security checkpoint waits of approximately 50 minutes on Sunday.
As the shutdown continues, travelers are advised to anticipate significant delays and check with their airlines and airports for the latest information before heading to the airport.