Lead
Unscheduled absences among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have more than doubled since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse that began Feb. 14, according to internal TSA data obtained by CBS News. Nationwide callouts averaged about 6% during the shutdown versus roughly 2% before funding lapsed, with daily peaks as high as 9% on Feb. 23. The agency reported 305 employee separations between Feb. 14 and March 9, and some airports — including Houston Hobby and John F. Kennedy — experienced multi‑hour security waits. TSA managers say consolidated checkpoints and reduced lanes have become common where absences rose sharply.
Key Takeaways
- Nationwide average callout rate climbed to about 6% during the DHS shutdown, up from about 2% pre-shutdown, with the highest single‑day national rate of 9% on Feb. 23.
- TSA recorded 305 separations between Feb. 14 and March 9, and the agency says replacing officers takes four to six months of training.
- Some airports saw much larger local spikes: JFK averaged a 21% absence rate during the shutdown; Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta 19%; Houston Hobby 18% average, with single days hitting 53% and 47% on March 8–9.
- Operational “hotspots” — days where staffing threatened checkpoint flow — were concentrated in Houston (44 incidents), New Orleans (35) and Atlanta (32); the national single‑day high was 87 hotspots on March 8.
- Travel demand continued rising during the shutdown, forcing fewer officers to screen more passengers and prompting some airports to advise travelers to arrive hours earlier.
- First full missed paychecks were expected on the Friday following the March 9 data, raising concern about further increases in absences and separations.
Background
The DHS funding lapse that began Feb. 14 has required roughly 50,000 TSA employees to work without pay. That dynamic can prompt immediate financial strain on lower‑paid frontline staff, and previous shutdowns have shown unscheduled absences and resignations rise when pay is interrupted. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, for example, TSA callouts climbed to nearly 8% by mid‑January and peaked near 10% on some days, setting a precedent that officials now reference.
Staffing at checkpoints is already dependent on multi‑stage hiring and training: new officers typically require four to six months of classroom and supervised on‑the‑job training before they can work independently. That lag means separations during a shutdown have effects that can persist for months. The agency tracks both routine callouts (sick or personal reasons) and concentrated “hotspots” where shortages threaten to slow checkpoint operations; the latter grew more frequent during the current funding lapse.
Main Event
Internal TSA statistics obtained by CBS News show nationwide unscheduled absence rates rose to an average near 6% during the shutdown, with several days substantially higher. The data list the three highest national absence days as Feb. 23 (9%), March 6 (8%) and March 9 (7%). Individual airports reported starker spikes: on March 8, 53% of scheduled officers at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport did not report, and 47% called out the following day.
John F. Kennedy International Airport averaged a 21% absence rate during the shutdown — the highest among major hubs in the dataset — while Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta recorded 19%, New Orleans 14%, and Pittsburgh 13% average absence rates. Managers in several cities said the shortages forced consolidation of checkpoints or closure of lanes, increasing wait times and causing flight disruptions for some travelers.
The staffing shortfall coincided with extreme weather on at least one of the peak days; for example, the Feb. 23 blizzard saw 77% of officers at JFK and 53% at Newark call out, compounding the operational strain. Nationwide, the agency logged 87 hotspot incidents on March 8 alone, the highest single‑day count during the period studied. Travel demand rose as spring break approached, intensifying pressure on the remaining workforce.
Separately, TSA reported 305 employee separations between Feb. 14 and March 9. TSA leaders warn that prolonged or repeated pay interruptions can accelerate attrition and weaken long‑term recruitment, since applicants may be reluctant to accept a job that could require unpaid work during future funding standoffs.
Analysis & Implications
Short‑term operational impacts are visible in wait times and checkpoint throughput, particularly at airports with the highest absence rates. Where managers consolidated lanes, throughput per lane rose, increasing the screening burden on present officers and extending passenger wait times; several airports advised travelers to arrive multiple hours early. Those immediate effects can ripple into airline operations as missed flights cascade through schedules.
Medium‑term implications involve workforce composition and institutional knowledge. With hiring and training timelines of four to six months, the 305 separations recorded could translate into months of understaffed checkpoints even after funding is restored. If attrition continues, TSA will lose experienced screeners whose departure also raises training demands and costs for replacements.
Longer‑term, repeated funding disruptions risk making frontline federal security jobs less attractive relative to private‑sector alternatives. Former TSA leadership has warned that prior shutdowns led to large waves of resignations; internal and public messaging that pay is uncertain may depress applicant pools and hinder retention efforts, potentially increasing the baseline cost of maintaining screening capacity.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Pre‑Shutdown | Shutdown (avg) | Notable peaks / airports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide callout rate | ~2% | ~6% | Peak days: 9% (Feb. 23), 8% (Mar. 6), 7% (Mar. 9) |
| Recorded separations (Feb. 14–Mar. 9) | N/A | 305 | Replacement training: 4–6 months |
| Selected airport average absences | Varies | JFK 21%, ATL 19%, HOU 18%, MSY 14%, PIT 13% | HOU single days: 53% (Mar. 8), 47% (Mar. 9) |
| Operational hotspots | Typical baseline lower | Concentrated increases | Houston 44, New Orleans 35, Atlanta 32; national high 87 (Mar. 8) |
The table summarizes the internal TSA figures reported by CBS News and contextualizes training timelines and hotspot counts. While national averages rose to about 6%, local conditions varied widely: some airports experienced episodic extreme callouts driven by weather and local factors. The multi‑month replacement timeline amplifies the operational meaning of separations reported during the shutdown.
Reactions & Quotes
Former TSA Administrator John Pistole warned that low morale and absences can create perceived openings for adversaries and that repeated unpaid work undermines the appeal of the job.
“It’s a huge morale hit for TSA,”
John Pistole, former TSA Administrator
The DHS spokesperson framed the shutdown as a recurring hardship for officers and tied resolution to congressional action, while the White House press office urged lawmakers to act to reopen DHS.
“TSA employees were being forced to work without pay for the THIRD time in nearly six months,”
DHS spokesperson (statement to CBS News)
Senate leaders on both sides highlighted stalled negotiations, with Democrats proposing separated votes to fund agencies such as TSA while debating funding for immigration enforcement agencies.
“We gave them a chance to fund TSA and other DHS agencies,”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (press conference)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the 305 separations include only frontline screeners or also administrative/support staff has not been fully specified in the released dataset.
- The precise number of applicants deterred from joining TSA because of the current shutdown is not yet measurable and remains an open recruitment metric.
- Claims that adversaries will exploit the current staffing pattern are a security concern raised by some officials but remain speculative without identified incidents tying staffing gaps to successful exploitation.
Bottom Line
The DHS funding lapse has produced measurable operational stress at checkpoints: unscheduled absences rose to a nationwide average near 6%, 305 employees left between Feb. 14 and March 9, and several airports reported multi‑hour waits. Because hiring and training take months, the separations and high callout days could have effects that last well beyond the funding gap itself.
Resolving the funding impasse quickly would reduce immediate pressure on checkpoints and limit further separations; absent a near‑term fix, TSA managers and federal leaders may face a prolonged period of constrained staffing that raises costs, complicates recruitment, and risks more frequent screening disruptions during peak travel periods.