Air travelers across the United States are facing hours-long security lines as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages disrupt airport operations during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Reuters reported that rising absences among TSA screeners led to a second straight day of unusually long waits, with standard checkpoint lines at Houston Hobby Airport averaging about 3 hours at one point. The report also highlighted that DHS funding lapsed on February 13 after Congress failed to reach an agreement, leaving about 50,000 TSA airport security screeners working without pay.
As the shutdown stretches on, airports are warning travelers to arrive much earlier than usual, especially as Spring Break traffic increases. Houston Airports said longer-than-normal wait times may continue until the shutdown ends. They advised passengers to arrive three hours early for domestic flights and four hours early for international departures.
Houston Airport Delays Highlight The Shutdown’s Growing Travel Impact
Houston has become one of the clearest examples of how the shutdown is straining airport security operations. According to Houston Airports, excessive wait times at William P. Hobby Airport on March 8 led airport officials and airline partners to request support from TSA National Deployment Officers. The airport said those officers began reporting to Hobby on March 10 and had already improved operations.
Houston Airports also said one checkpoint in Terminal D at George Bush Intercontinental Airport remained closed because of federal staffing issues. Staffing levels can vary by airport and by shift, the airport system said, which means wait times can change quickly.
The disruption is not limited to Houston. Reuters noted that New Orleans also saw significant delays as airports dealt with reduced staffing and heavy passenger volumes during a busy travel period.
Unpaid TSA Workers And Heavy Spring Travel Put More Pressure On Airports
The shutdown is affecting more than the checkpoint lines. In a March 8 statement, Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu said, “Congress and the administration must act with urgency” to reopen DHS and end the shutdown. The airline trade group said TSA lines had stretched to 2 or 3 hours at some airports, causing missed departures and broader disruption to flight operations.
Reuters reported that airlines expect a record spring travel season, with 171 million passengers projected to fly during the two months, up from the same season last year. At the same time, TSA workers are expected to miss their first full paycheck this week, raising concerns that more officers may stay home as they struggle with gas, child care, and other basic costs.
