Lead: Since a partial government shutdown began in mid-February, thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers have been working without pay at major U.S. airports, producing long security lines and growing staff absences. Travelers at hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Orlando and JFK have faced waits from more than two hours to under an hour, and officials warn delays may worsen this weekend. The staffing strain has led to resignations and rising absenteeism, while authorities caution that continued missed paychecks could degrade operations. This report explains what has happened, where the system is most stressed, and practical steps for travelers.
Key Takeaways
- More than 61,000 Department of Homeland Security employees are affected by the partial shutdown that began in mid-February, including thousands of TSA screeners.
- Call-out rates at the TSA have hovered above 9 percent for six consecutive days, with nearly 10 percent failing to report on a recent Thursday and a record 10.22 percent earlier in the week.
- At least 366 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and some airports have seen particularly acute shortages, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta where over one third of screeners were absent earlier in the week.
- Reported security wait times reached more than three hours for one family at Atlanta, exceeded two hours at Hartsfield-Jackson by Saturday morning, approached one hour in Orlando and topped 30 minutes at JFK earlier in the day.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that current disruptions could be minor compared with the consequences of another missed paycheck, and some officials have said prolonged cuts could force partial airport closures.
- Weather disruptions and a busy spring break travel period have compounded staffing shortfalls, increasing cancellations, delays and passenger congestion inside terminals.
- Frontline workers report severe financial strain, with examples including eviction notices, repossessions and empty refrigerators cited by a local union leader.
Background
The current partial shutdown, which began in mid-February amid a broader dispute over Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration policy, has produced its third funding lapse in six months for some federal operations. TSA officers classified as essential have been required to work without regular paychecks while Congress remains deadlocked. Historically, extended shutdowns have led to operational breakdowns; for example, a 43-day nationwide shutdown late last year ended only after significant absences among TSA screeners and FAA controllers disrupted travel.
TSA employs tens of thousands of frontline screeners whose routine tasks include baggage screening, passenger checks and managing special-needs lanes. When large fractions of those staff are absent—either through voluntary call-outs or resignations—airports must reroute passengers through fewer checkpoints, extend hold times and reallocate supervisors to screening duties. Airports are commercial hubs and security installations at once, so changes in staffing ripple into airline schedules, passenger throughput and perceived safety.
Main Event
This week the effects were visible at multiple airports. In Atlanta a family described waiting more than three hours before missing a 6 a.m. flight, while early Saturday morning security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson stretched to a little over two hours. Orlando reported waits approaching an hour, and New York JFK saw waits topping half an hour. In Houston, more than half of TSA staff reportedly called out at one point on Friday, forcing lines to spill into atriums and public areas.
Frontline officers in blue uniforms continued to process travelers under visible stress. Union representatives and rank-and-file staff described growing financial pressure; local union leadership in Atlanta said many colleagues face eviction notices, repossessions and empty refrigerators even as they continue to work. Some employees have left the agency after repeated missed pay periods, citing the difficulty of staying afloat while expecting pay that does not arrive.
Officials described operational strain and warned of escalation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that the disruptions seen so far could be eclipsed if another payroll cycle is missed, potentially pushing the system toward partial closures at some airports. Former senior TSA leadership cautioned that longer lines and crowded checkpoints could create soft-target vulnerabilities if not addressed.
Analysis & Implications
Operationally, sustained absenteeism at the levels reported—near or above 9 to 10 percent—reduces checkpoint capacity and increases the likelihood of cascading delays across airline schedules. When staffing falls below planned levels, airports must consolidate lanes, slow processing rates and rely on overtime by remaining staff, which can accelerate fatigue-related performance declines. That combination increases passenger frustration and raises managerial burdens for airport operators and airlines trying to maintain schedules.
From a security perspective, experts note that extended queues and concentrated crowds can present a different risk profile than the normal flow of travelers. Former senior TSA leaders warn that attackers could seek to exploit concentrated, slow-moving lines, and that distracted or overwhelmed staff may have less bandwidth for careful screening. Those concerns make the staffing shortfall more than an inconvenience; they frame it as an operational resiliency issue that intersects with safety priorities.
Economically, lost labor and resignations amplify recruiting and training costs for TSA, and the uncertainty discourages retention. If absences and quits continue, airports and carriers may incur higher operational costs, more frequent schedule disruptions and reputational damage that depresses traveler confidence. Policymakers face trade-offs: short-term funding resolutions can restore pay and staffing quickly, but recurring shutdown risks will keep retention and recruitment challenges elevated unless structural agreements reduce repetition.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Reported Value |
|---|---|
| Total DHS employees affected | More than 61,000 |
| Recent TSA call-out rate | Near 10%; record 10.22% |
| Resignations since shutdown began | At least 366 |
| Notable airport shortages | Over one third of Atlanta screeners absent; 50%+ call-outs at Houston Hobby (Friday) |
The table above summarizes the most-cited figures reported by officials and employees. These numbers show both the breadth of personnel affected across DHS and the acute stress at particular hubs where absentee rates far exceeded normal operational expectations. Even small percentage shifts in frontline staffing can translate into minutes or hours of extra wait time when passenger volumes are high.
Reactions & Quotes
Transportation leaders and security experts reacted to the situation with urgency, stressing both the human and operational toll. Below are representative statements with context.
Current disruptions are a warning of greater risk if another payroll is missed, and some airports could face closures if the shutdown persists.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
This remark was offered by the department head to underscore the potential escalation in operational impacts should staff continue working without pay. It frames the issue as immediate and contingent on funding decisions in Washington.
Longer lines and crowded checkpoints can create soft-target vulnerabilities and increase pressure on distracted staff trying to manage heavy volumes.
Former TSA Administrator John Pistole
Pistole emphasized security trade-offs: concentrated crowds and distracted personnel change threat dynamics, reinforcing why some security professionals view staffing as integral to safety, not merely customer service.
We are seeing eviction notices, repossessions and empty refrigerators among officers who still show up to work, which is taking a tremendous toll.
Aaron Barker, union leader for TSA employees in Atlanta
Barker described the personal consequences for workers, highlighting reasons behind rising resignations and absenteeism beyond schedule inconvenience.
Unconfirmed
- Reports that specific airports will be forced to close remain contingent on future staffing and funding developments and are not confirmed as scheduled actions.
- Predictions that security screening failures will occur as a direct result of current absenteeism are hypothetical and have not been corroborated by a documented incident at this time.
Bottom Line
The partial government shutdown that began in mid-February has pushed many TSA officers to work without pay, producing higher absenteeism, resignations and longer security lines at major hubs. The situation has practical consequences for travelers this weekend and poses operational and security concerns if pay disruptions continue. Travelers should expect delays at busy airports and plan accordingly, while policymakers must weigh short-term fixes against the long-term costs of repeated funding lapses.
For travelers: arrive early, monitor airline and airport advisories, consider alternate airports or flights, and allow extra time for special assistance needs. For decision makers: restoring pay and stabilizing funding cycles will be essential to reversing resignations and reestablishing normal checkpoint throughput.