300 TSA Agents Quit Amid Partial Government Shutdown

300 TSA agents have quit their jobs amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

“President Trump thanked TSA agents for going to work but "not being paid" amid an ongoing partial government shutdown, which has seen agents quitting and absences doubling”

CBS News

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the significant departure rate and noting that "callouts" have doubled from pre-shutdown levels.

CBS News

The agents are described as workers who "don't make a lot of money."

The agents have already missed a partial payment and a full payment during the funding stalemate.

DHS officials worry that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the risk that more TSA employees will leave.

This could potentially worsen staffing shortages beyond the immediate crisis.

The shutdown stems from controversy in Congress over President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security having lapsed in mid-February.

TSA agents are facing severe financial hardships due to working without pay.

Some are opting to withdraw thousands of dollars from their retirement accounts to pay bills.

CNN

Others are borrowing from family and friends to make ends meet.

Many agents are desperately trying to figure out what bills can be left unpaid or what expenses can be postponed.

This highlights the economic vulnerability of these essential workers.

George Borek, a TSA officer from Atlanta and labor representative, noted that "a lot of the public doesn't realize TSA agents are working without pay right now because other government agencies aren't affected by the shutdown."

This reveals how the shutdown's impacts are unevenly felt across the federal workforce.

The financial strain has created an atmosphere of anxiety, with one officer stating, "Our kids, our families, houses — everything is at stake at this moment."

The staffing crisis has led to severe disruptions at airports nationwide.

“(CNN) - As the partial government shutdown continues, hundreds of agents with the Transportation Security Administration have quit their jobs”

KWTX

Dozens of airports are reporting long lines and extended wait times as the reduced workforce struggles to handle normal passenger volumes.

Some airports have resorted to asking travelers for assistance.

Denver International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas are requesting donations of grocery and gas gift cards, non-perishable food, hygiene products, and infant supplies.

In Idaho, Boise Airport has put out food donation boxes while Pocatello Regional Airport is accepting donations of food, household supplies, and gift cards.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport specifically cited "impacts from the federal government's partial shutdown" for worker shortages.

The airport warned passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flights.

Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta advised similar early arrival times citing projections for more than 250,000 travelers over a weekend.

The shutdown has become politically charged.

President Trump thanked TSA agents for going to work "but not being paid" while blaming the "radical left".

CBS News

Trump made these comments in a social media post accusing them of refusing "to honor the deal that was approved and voted on in Congress."

Trump directed portions of his post directly to TSA agents, writing "Keep fighting for the USA. GO TO WORK! I promise that I will never forget you!!!"

This came as the first full missed paycheck for agents was expected.

The political gridlock over funding the Department of Homeland Security has created a stalemate.

Transportation Secretary Duffy attributes this to political divisions.

The CEOs of American, Delta and United sent an open letter to Congress calling the missed paychecks "simply unacceptable."

They noted that "It's difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid."

The shutdown's impact extends beyond immediate staffing concerns to long-term risks.

“President Trump thanked TSA agents for going to work but "not being paid" amid an ongoing partial government shutdown, which has seen agents quitting and absences doubling”

CBS News

DHS officials warn that prolonged funding lapses could lead to further departures.

CNN

This could cause potentially irreversible damage to workforce stability.

Roughly 50,000 transportation security officers are required to work without pay during the DHS funding lapse.

The funding lapse began on February 14.

The strain is evident through more than doubled unscheduled absences.

Over 300 employees have already left the agency.

The airline CEOs have called on Congress to fund DHS and pass legislation.

They want acts that would guarantee air traffic controllers and TSA officers continue receiving paychecks during future shutdowns.

The contrast between normal operations and current conditions is stark.

A 2024 TSA report found that more than 99% of passengers waited less than 30 minutes at security checkpoints.

99.4% of passengers in TSA PreCheck lanes waited less than 10 minutes.

This is a far cry from the current two-hour waits being experienced at many airports.