After forcing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work unpaid for nearly six weeks due to a funding impasse, there may be an end to the partial government shutdown in sight … and the long security queues that have plagued a handful of major U.S. airports. But that won't happen overnight.
On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump announced on social media that he would unilaterally fund via an emergency executive order. Hours later, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a standalone funding bill for much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the TSA.
That bill still needs final approval in the House of Representatives. It's unclear whether the president's executive order or Congress's recent action will result in TSA agents getting their paychecks first – or when that might happen.
Either way, paychecks may not go out to TSA workers for several days at the earliest. And that means the hours-long waits at security that have dominated national headlines for the last week are unlikely to disappear immediately.
Spring break travel season is roaring, leading to near-record numbers of travelers. At the same time, some airports are clearly struggling to staff security checkpoints, with up to 40% or more of TSA workers calling out of work at some major hubs.
That's a recipe for bottlenecks and hours of standing in line.
Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) has emerged as the worst airport in the world for delays this week, with waits of four hours or more. Just two of the airport's eight security checkpoints have been open for much of the week, with no TSA PreCheck nor CLEAR+ available, period.
Delta's Atlanta (ATL) megahub isn't faring much better this week. Ditto for the two major New York hubs at New York City (JFK) and New York City-LaGuardia (LGA). And long delays have begun to bubble up recently at Newark (EWR) on the East Coast and San Diego (SAN) out west.
Those airports – and perhaps more – could continue seeing issues through the weekend and beyond until TSA agents get their paychecks and return to work.
Want to scope out wait times at your home airport?
Plus, there could be lingering staffing issues long after the shutdown ends.
The agency said Thursday that nearly 500 officers had left the job altogether during the latest shutdown. And even with paychecks (including full backpay for the last six weeks of work), the TSA could struggle to hire agents after its workforce has been asked to work two long stretches without pay in just the last five months. Alongside many other federal employees, TSA agents worked 43 days without pay last fall during a far more widespread government shutdown.
This is a developing news story, check back for updates.
