TSA Staff Absences Cause Three-Hour Security Lines at Major U.S. Airports During Government Shutdown

A partial federal government shutdown left the TSA short-staffed during the spring-break travel surge, producing unusually long security lines and prompting warnings from airlines and airports.

“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

ABC News reported: 'Airports nationwide are seeing much longer TSA security lines as the partial government shutdown has left the agency short-staffed during the Spring Break travel surge.'

ABC News

The Detroit News said carriers expect about '171 million passengers' during the spring period that will overlap with TSA workers' first missed paychecks.

The New York Times described long lines and stranded passengers as the shutdown continued.

Some of the worst delays were concentrated at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong, with wait times reported as long as three to three-and-a-half hours and airports urging travelers to arrive multiple hours early.

Multiple outlets documented the same hubs: Hobby reported waits up to "3½-hour waits and three-hour averages" and New Orleans "advised travelers to arrive at least three hours early" (The Detroit News).

BBC

Fine Day 102.3 noted "Waits peaked at about 3.5 hours at Houston Hobby and were still around three hours by late afternoon."

NBC reported "waits of 2 hours 45 minutes before noon and warning that lines could exceed three hours" at Hobby.

Officials and industry sources tie the delays to staffing gaps caused by the shutdown.

“Travelers faced security checkpoint delays of up to three and a half hours at major U”

Fine Day 102.3

They say TSA officers are required to work without current pay.

They say lanes have been closed or limited and some programs were suspended.

The Points Guy and the New York Times reported that "TSA officers are required to work but are not being paid during the lapse" and that the PreCheck lane at Hobby was closed.

ABC News added that "TSA workers have already received a reduced paycheck and would get no pay if the shutdown continues" and warned of "sickouts and resignations".

The Detroit News reported a prior surge in departures, saying "TSA official Ha Nguyen McNeill told Congress that roughly 1,110 transportation security officers left in October–November 2025 after a 43‑day government shutdown — a >25% increase in departures versus the same period in 2024."

The staffing shortages have had concrete operational consequences: passengers missed flights, airports limited lanes and some travelers posted images of overcrowded checkpoints.

The Points Guy described how the shortages "contributed to flight delays, cancellations and many missed flights."

NBC News

The New York Times reported lines "snaked through concourses, down stairs, into baggage claim and parking garages" with only one lane and closed PreCheck at Hobby.

NBC described passengers facing long bag-check waits and warned travelers to arrive "4-5 hours early."

Industry leaders and carriers publicly criticized lawmakers for the disruption and urged an end to the shutdown as airlines brace for peak travel.

“TrumpAdministration Advertisement Supported by Screening delays created lines that stretched around William P”

New York Times

Airlines for America warned the transportation security workforce 'is too important to be used as political leverage,' according to The Detroit News.

New York Times

NBC relayed that Airlines for America criticized what it called using transportation security workers for 'political leverage,' blaming the situation for delays and strain on the aviation system.

The Points Guy and ABC News highlighted industry warnings about the potential for worsening delays if the shutdown continued while carriers prepare for the 171-million-passenger spring surge.