Congress Fails to Fund DHS, TSA Officers Work Without Pay as Florida Airport Lines Form

Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on February 13, 2026.

“Florida airport TSA wait times Sunday as spring break travel ramps up Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are working without regular pay Sunday, March 15, as spring break travel ramps up and the ongoing partial federal government shutdown continues”

The News-Press

Democrats and Republicans could not reach agreement on immigration enforcement reforms.

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This resulted in approximately 50,000 airport security screeners working without pay.

The funding lapse left TSA employees in limbo as they continued their duties.

Congress remained deadlocked on critical immigration provisions attached to the DHS funding bill.

The political stalemate came at a difficult time for TSA workers.

Many TSA employees were still recovering from the last two government shutdowns in 2025.

The funding crisis has led to significant staffing challenges within the Transportation Security Administration.

TSA Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill reported that approximately 1,110 TSA officers left the agency in October and November 2025.

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This represents a more than 25% increase in attrition compared to the same time period the previous year.

Political uncertainty and working conditions are driving away experienced security personnel.

The exodus of TSA officers comes at a time when the agency is dealing with the funding lapse consequences.

This creates a staffing crisis that could impact airport security operations nationwide.

Florida airports have been particularly affected by the DHS funding crisis.

“Florida airport TSA wait times Sunday as spring break travel ramps up Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are working without regular pay Sunday, March 15, as spring break travel ramps up and the ongoing partial federal government shutdown continues”

The News-Press

Long lines have formed as understaffed TSA screeners struggle to maintain security protocols.

Screeners are working without pay while dealing with staffing shortages.

Political uncertainty has created operational challenges for Florida's major transportation hubs.

Passenger volumes remain high despite the ongoing difficulties.

The situation raises concerns about security screening quality.

Overall passenger experience at Florida airports is deteriorating.

These airports serve as critical gateways for domestic and international travel.

The ongoing DHS funding impasse reflects deeper political divisions in Congress.

These divisions center around immigration policy disagreements.

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Democrats refuse to accept Republican demands for stricter immigration enforcement measures.

These demands are tied to funding homeland security agencies.

The stalemate creates uncertainty for federal employees.

Employees continue working without pay while Congress debates compensation terms.

This pattern of political brinkmanship has become increasingly common.

Federal agencies and employees bear the brunt of congressional funding failures.