TSA Lines Stretching 3+ Hours at Major U.S. Airports
It has been anything but friendly in the friendly skies this week. A lapse in the funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has led to brutally long airport security lines over the last several days, which has hindered many spring break goers. Here is a look at what is happening across the nation's airports, why the lines are so long, and when the issue may be resolved.
Security Wait Times Explode Across the Nation's Airports Due to Funding Lapse
Air travelers have been battling long lines at security checkpoints this week thanks to a partial government shutdown. The lapse in funding for the DHS means that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners are going to miss their first paycheck in the days ahead, likely leading to even more delays.
The majority of the over 430 commercial airports in the U.S. rely on TSA staff to get passengers through security. Passengers had to wait for over three hours in security lines at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston on Sunday and Monday due to staffing shortages. Similarly, local officials at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport urged passengers to arrive at least three hours prior to their flight, as lines stretched for over two hours.
Other airports around the country dealing with exceptionally long security lines in recent days include Charlotte Douglas International, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International. TSA PreCheck lines are still open at most U.S. airports. A spokesperson for DHS said that TSA will adjust operations for specific TSA PreCheck sites on a case-by-case basis.
Unfortunately, the Global Entry program remains closed.
When to Expect Security Lines to Ease
Aviation leaders are putting pressure on Congress to take action to provide funding for DHS. Finding a way to pay TSA workers until the partial shutdown is resolved would also go a long way in easing security lines.
Earlier in the year, a bipartisan group of 16 U.S. representatives proposed legislation that would guarantee full paychecks for federal employees, contractors, military service members, and reservists during times of government shutdowns. However, the piece of legislation is still being debated. While TSA workers are not being paid during the shutdown, other DHS workers have continued to receive paychecks despite a lapse in funding. These workers still getting paid include the Secret Service, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
The current government shutdown only impacts TSA employees. This means that air traffic controllers are still being paid normally.
According to Airlines for America, the average TSA worker makes $35,000 annually. Many of these employees live paycheck to paycheck, throwing their finances into chaos after one missed payday. The loss of a paycheck is devastating for many of these workers, forcing them to call out sick so they can pick up work elsewhere to make ends meet.
History has shown us that widespread airline delays and disruptions often serve as the impetus to end a shutdown. The historic government shutdown in the fall of October 2025 was finally brought to an end when Congress was forced to act when facing pressure from the aviation industry and air travelers.
The Status of the Shutdown
DHS is now the last federal agency that has not received full funding from Congress for the rest of the fiscal year. The federal government's fiscal year ends on September 30. DHS has been receiving funding through a series of short-term extensions. However, the last extension ran out of funds almost a month ago.
TSA employees received a partial paycheck on February 28. The first full missed paycheck will happen on March 14. The reality of the upcoming missed check has prompted more and more TSA screeners to take off work.
The controversy surrounding the funding decision revolves around the topic of immigration reform. DHS is the agency in charge of not just the TSA, but also groups such as CBP, ICE, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The shooting deaths of two American citizens by ICE agents in January in Minneapolis prompted a surge of unrest across several U.S. cities. Senate Democrats responded by calling for changes in how ICE operates, leading to the inability to pass the funding legislation.
It is not likely that the partial shutdown will end any time soon. Congress would need to act quickly to pass legislation; however, that does not seem to be an immediate priority.
In addition to the stagnation in Congress, DHS is also going to be transitioning to a new leader in the weeks ahead. U.S. President Donald Trump fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem last week, amidst growing controversy surrounding her leadership decisions. Trump has appointed GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin to take over Noem's post on March 31.
The good news for TSA employees is that they will receive back pay for missed paychecks once the shutdown is over. TSA officers who did not call out sick during the fall shutdown received a $10,000 bonus after the funding resumed.
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