Lead
Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned on March 18, 2026, that a rising rate of sick calls among Transportation Security Administration officers could force temporary airport closures across the United States. The surge followed a missed paycheck caused by a month-long partial federal shutdown, leaving roughly 50,000 officers working without pay and hundreds having already resigned. The agency reported nationwide sick calls exceeded 10% on Monday—about five times a normal day—with localized spikes that closed checkpoints and produced multi-hour lines. Stahl cautioned the problem will worsen if the Department of Homeland Security and the agency do not receive funding.
Key Takeaways
- Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl issued the warning on March 18, 2026, saying airports could face shutdown scenarios if call-out rates continue to rise.
- More than 10% of TSA officers nationwide called out on Monday, about five times the typical daily rate, according to the agency.
- In Atlanta, over 37% of officers called out on Monday, forcing closure of a checkpoint at Hartsfield–Jackson—the world’s busiest airport.
- Wait times exceeded two hours in Atlanta and reached at least 103 minutes at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
- Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay after the missed paycheck; hundreds of officers have quit amid the partial government shutdown.
- As staffing falls, screening lanes and entire checkpoints are being closed, a trend most likely to impact smaller airports first.
Background
The spike in sick calls coincides with a month-long partial federal government shutdown that led to TSA officers missing a scheduled paycheck. TSA employs tens of thousands of frontline screeners nationwide; while the agency continued operations, many employees faced immediate financial strain. Acting leadership says some officers have reported extreme hardship—sleeping in vehicles or taking other measures—after pay stopped. Historically, staffing shortfalls at security checkpoints have lengthened wait times and strained airport operations, but the current combination of unpaid work and attrition has raised new concerns about continuity of services.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security has been the central political stake in negotiations that produced the partial shutdown. Without a resolution, the agency argues, operational stressors will compound: reduced staffing leads to lane closures, which worsen passenger queues and can cascade into broader logistical and economic impacts for airlines and airports. Smaller regional airports lack spare staffing reserves and thus are more vulnerable to temporary shutdowns of screening operations than large hub airports with greater redundancy. The agency has emphasized contingency planning even as it seeks expedited funding relief.
Main Event
On March 18, 2026, Adam Stahl told CBS News the agency is closely tracking rising sick-call rates and warned that continued increases could force temporary airport shutdowns in some scenarios. TSA recorded its highest single-day call-out level on the Monday referenced, with more than 10% of officers nationwide absent. That figure is roughly quintuple the agency’s typical daily call-out rate and produced immediate operational consequences at multiple airports.
Atlanta experienced a particularly acute impact: more than 37% of TSA officers called out that Monday, which led to the closure of one checkpoint at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and wait times topping two hours. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport logged passenger screening waits of at least 103 minutes, while Philadelphia announced that three of its six checkpoints would be closed on Wednesday as staffing declined.
TSA officials said that as available screeners shrink, they must consolidate lanes and at times close entire checkpoints, a step that amplifies passenger delays and can disrupt airline schedules. The agency noted hundreds of employees have left their posts since the pay interruption began, while those remaining face significant financial hardship. Stahl warned, in blunt terms, that the situation is serious and could deteriorate absent funding action.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate operational effect of elevated sick calls is predictable: fewer screeners mean fewer open lanes, longer queues, and more stress on airport ground operations. For major hubs, that stress can ripple through the national network, delaying connecting flights and increasing costs for airlines that must rebook and accommodate passengers. For regional airports, which often operate with minimal staffing buffers, temporary closure of checkpoints could halt departures and arrivals until screeners are available.
Economically, prolonged disruptions would carry costs for carriers, airports, and the traveling public. Airlines could face increased gate holds, crew scheduling complications, and passenger compensation obligations. Airports could see reduced concession revenue and reputational damage if travelers shift to other hubs. The broader supply chain—cargo operations and time-sensitive freight—could also be affected by reduced throughput at key airports.
Politically, the situation places pressure on lawmakers to resolve DHS funding gaps quickly. The administration and DHS leadership may seek emergency appropriations or targeted stopgaps to restore pay and stem resignations. Labor dynamics could shift as the hardship experienced by officers strengthens bargaining positions for unions and prompts calls for policy changes to protect pay continuity during funding lapses.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Typical Level | Reported (Monday) |
|---|---|---|
| National TSA call-out rate | ~2% (typical) | >10% (reported) |
| Atlanta call-out rate | — | 37%+ |
| Reported wait times | Usually under 30 minutes at many checkpoints | 2+ hours in Atlanta; 103 minutes in Houston |
| Officers working without pay | — | ~50,000 |
The table contrasts routine staffing metrics with the spike observed the referenced Monday. A national call-out above 10% represents a near fivefold rise from typical daily levels and explains why checkpoints and lanes are being consolidated. The localized 37% absentee rate in Atlanta is extreme relative to both the national average and conventional operational tolerance for sustained screening. These disparities help explain why smaller airports, with limited redundancy, are likeliest to experience temporary closures first.
Reactions & Quotes
Below are brief, on-record remarks from TSA leadership that capture the agency’s official posture; these are followed by contextual explanation of the statements.
If the call rate does climb, there could be scenarios where we may have to shut down airports.
Adam Stahl, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator
Stahl framed closures as conditional outcomes tied to further increases in call-outs. The remark was issued as part of a broader warning that funding delays will intensify operational risk.
This is a serious situation.
Adam Stahl, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator
That succinct warning was used to underscore the immediate human and operational pressures—staffing shortfalls, unpaid officers and the risk of checkpoint reductions—that the agency is confronting.
Our people are hurting.
Adam Stahl, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator
Stahl used that phrase to describe officers’ reported hardships after missing a paycheck, citing instances of officers sleeping in vehicles and other measures taken to cope with lost income. The agency emphasized the human toll alongside operational strain.
Unconfirmed
- Exact number of airports that might face temporary closure is not confirmed and would depend on future call-out rates and local staffing reserves.
- Longer-term attrition projections for TSA staffing beyond the reported ‘hundreds’ of departures have not been independently verified.
- Specific timelines for potential funding resolutions from Congress or the Department of Homeland Security remain uncertain and could change operational outcomes.
Bottom Line
The TSA warning on March 18, 2026, signals a tangible risk to airport operations driven by a sharp rise in officer sick calls after a missed paycheck amid a partial government shutdown. Immediate consequences—longer lines, closed lanes and checkpoint consolidations—are already visible at major airports like Atlanta and Houston, while smaller airports face the greatest risk of temporary closures.
Resolving the funding lapse promptly would likely ease the acute pressure by restoring pay, reducing call-outs and slowing resignations; absent that, the industry should prepare for continued delays and possible localized shutdowns. Travelers and aviation stakeholders should monitor official agency updates and consider contingency plans for travel during periods of operational stress.
Sources
- CBS News (news reporting)