USA17 March, 20261 min read
TSA Staffing Shortages Cause Multi-Hour Airport Delays Across US
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DHS shutdown triggers TSA staffing shortages and multi-hour security lines at airports. TSA officers are working without pay as the shutdown persists.
Shutdown Slams TSA
The DHS funding lapse triggered TSA staffing shortages with absences more than doubling to an average of 6% nationwide. At Houston's Hobby Airport, nearly half of scheduled officers did not report to work during a two-day stretch. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport advised passengers to arrive at least three hours early due to TSA shortages.
Airports Grind to Halt
JFK averaged 21% absences, Atlanta 19%, Louis Armstrong 14%, and Pittsburgh 13%. Passengers faced multi-hour waits and chaotic lines snaking through multiple floors. Airlines canceled up to 1,500 flights across US hubs during the peak weekend.
Political Battle Over Funding
House Republicans passed a bipartisan full-year DHS funding bill for the second time. The Senate remained blocked by Democrats who tie funding to immigration reforms. TSA officers face burnout from working without pay for the third time in six months.