Apparent TSA Sickout Snarls New Orleans Airport, Causes Three-Hour Security Lines at Some US Airports

Airline passengers encountered multi-hour security lines at several U.S. airports Sunday, with especially severe congestion at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International and Houston's William P. Hobby amid a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

“Travelers stuck in long security lines amid TSA staffing shortages, partial government shutdown Long lines were reported in New Orleans, Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte”

ABC News

News outlets report the shutdown has left TSA officers working without pay and many calling in sick, and the spring-break travel surge has worsened the problem.

ABC News

Officials warned travelers to build in extra time as checkpoints slowed and lines lengthened across major hubs.

New Orleans saw security lines extend into the parking garage and form multi-floor queues.

Houston's Hobby Airport reported waits of more than three hours at times and advised passengers to arrive four to five hours early.

BBC

Other major hubs flagged by outlets included Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Charlotte Douglas and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental.

Some travelers missed flights due to the delays.

Reporters and officials attribute the staffing crunch to the partial DHS funding lapse that began in mid-February.

“Airline passengers faced long security lines that took hours to get through in New Orleans and Houston on Sunday, as the Transportation Security Administration deals with continued absences amid the affecting the Department of Homeland Security”

CBS News

They note TSA workers have already received reduced pay and face the prospect of missing a full paycheck if the shutdown continues.

The funding lapse and missed paychecks have been linked to increased absences, sickouts and lane closures at some checkpoints.

Examples include suspension of Global Entry and the temporary closing of PreCheck lanes at certain airports.

Airports and authorities have taken ad hoc steps to manage the crush, coordinating with TSA to reallocate staff, using airport employees and volunteers to help manage queues, and deploying local law enforcement to assist passenger flow.

Industry groups and airports have urged travelers to arrive several hours earlier than usual as they scramble to handle the surge in demand during spring break.

CNBC

The situation has become politicized, with competing blame between national and local officials.

“Lines at security checkpoints stretched more than an hour at airports across the country Sunday, as the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security continues”

CNN

Industry critics warned that staffing could worsen if the shutdown persists.

CNN

Coverage notes that DHS and House Republicans blamed Democrats for the disruption while local officials faulted Republicans.

Aviation leaders cautioned that ongoing missed paychecks, sickouts and resignations could further strain the system.