USA · 28 March, 2026 · 1 min read
Government Shutdown Forces TSA Layoffs, Creates Lines of 2-3 Hours at US Airports
Shutdown leaves TSA workers unpaid, triggering high call-out rates and staffing shortages. Travelers face multi-hour security lines at major airports due to shortages.
Contrasting reported TSA wait times at BWI during the DHS funding lapse.
8 of 9 outlets skipped it: ICE deployment details and related incidents at airports included an ICE officer performing the Heimlich maneuver in a PreCheck line..
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Grand Pinnacle Tribune
“Wait times reached as long as six hours at some of the most affected airports”Read the original ↗
FOX 5 DC
“Passengers reported wait times exceeding three hours at times Friday, with only one security checkpoint open for Southwest and American Airlines at BWI.”Read the original ↗
Demonstrates a dramatic range in claimed peak delays (six hours vs three hours vs 30–60 minutes), illustrating how outlets frame the severity of disruption and which data are highlighted.
Shutdown Closes Checkpoints
The partial federal government shutdown left TSA workers unpaid and forced sudden closures of checkpoints. At BWI, passengers waited two to three hours just to check bags, then faced another couple of hours to clear security. Spring break and religious holidays triggered the busiest travel days as call-out rates exceeded 30-40% at major hubs.
TSA Workers Unpaid for 42 Days
TSA workers have gone 42 days without pay due to the funding lapse. Nearly 500 TSA officers quit during the shutdown. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes were also disrupted or unavailable.
Airlines Respond, TSA Back Pay Planned
Southwest agents delivered snacks and water to passengers. The Senate voted to fund most of DHS, a first step toward ending the shutdown. The measure moved to the House, which aimed to pass it before recess.
Traveler Frustration Mounts
Travelers described long waits, frustration and resignation. Equipment malfunctions and lane closures added to the chaos. Some travelers faced waits beyond five hours.