As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues to escalate, severe congestion has emerged at airport security checkpoints across the country. Due to unpaid wages, a large number of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees have taken leave or are absent, significantly reducing screening efficiency. On Sunday, March 22 passenger wait times at airports increased sharply.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the current period coincides with the spring break travel peak, but TSA employees remain unpaid due to the funding lapse. About 10 percent of screening personnel were absent this week, with average absentee rates reaching 20 percent at some airports. At certain locations, such as William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, absenteeism reached as high as 40.8 percent.
According to Business Insider, staffing shortages have caused major fluctuations in security wait times, even within the same day. Sheldon H. Jacobson, an engineering professor and aviation security expert at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, noted that the biggest uncertainty is the number of staff reporting to work each day, which directly determines screening efficiency.
Airport delays
At the nation’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, security wait times exceeded two and a half hours on Sunday morning, making it one of the hardest-hit locations. More than one-third of TSA staff were absent during certain periods. Some domestic passengers attempted to use international terminal checkpoints, further worsening congestion, prompting airport officials to advise travelers to use the correct screening areas based on their flights.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, some passengers waited up to two hours. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), wait times ranged from 17 to 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon but rose to 75 minutes by Sunday morning. Airport officials said additional staff had been deployed to help maintain order and guide passengers.
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At Newark Liberty International Airport, the longest wait time was about 44 minutes, while LaGuardia Airport performed relatively better, with almost no wait on Saturday and only about 20 minutes on Sunday morning.
Elsewhere, Denver International Airport saw wait times rise from under 5 minutes Saturday night to 15 minutes Sunday morning. Los Angeles International Airport at one point showed “zero wait.” Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport increased from about 13 minutes Saturday to 22 minutes Sunday. Philadelphia International Airport reported a maximum wait time of 6 minutes on Sunday morning.
Although some airports have not yet experienced severe congestion, the situation remains unpredictable. Experts advise travelers to allow extra time. Many airports recommend arriving up to three hours early even for domestic flights. Airports in Denver, Seattle, and elsewhere have also called on the public to donate food, gift cards, and other supplies to support unpaid TSA workers who continue to report for duty.
How to check TSA wait times
Most major airports now provide real-time updates on their official websites, including hubs in Atlanta, Houston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver.
Travelers can also use the “MyTSA” mobile app to get estimated wait times, though updates may be delayed during the shutdown.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that conditions could worsen as the shutdown continues.
In an interview on ABC’s This Week, Duffy said that as next week approaches, more TSA employees may choose to resign or be absent. Many are facing a second consecutive missed paycheck, and financial pressure is mounting rapidly.
Due to the ongoing deadlock in DHS funding negotiations, large numbers of TSA employees continue to take leave, and airport wait times are increasing nationwide. DHS data shows that more than 360 TSA employees have resigned since the shutdown began in late February.
Despite this, Duffy urged TSA staff to continue reporting to work, emphasizing that they will eventually receive back pay. He acknowledged employees’ financial concerns but called on them to help maintain airport operations.
To ease the situation, President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel will be deployed to airports nationwide starting Monday to assist with security and operations.
Duffy said ICE personnel have experience operating similar screening equipment at the border and can assist with passenger and baggage checks, as well as on-site order management and administrative support.
White House border affairs chief Tom Homan also said the government is accelerating plans to address the issue, aiming to relieve airport congestion in the short term.
By Gao Yun
