TSA officers quitting
More than 30 TSA officers across New England have resigned since the partial federal shutdown began, worsening staffing strains and spotlighting worker vulnerabilities in essential public services. The departures were flagged in a regional union report shared by the Boston Globe on social platforms. (x.com)
Mike Gayzagian, president of AFGE Local 2617, told reporters that the bulk of recent walk-offs occurred at Boston Logan and that roughly one officer per day has left New England screening posts since the shutdown began. (mynbc5.com) About 2,500 TSA agents are based across New England, and the agency’s frontline screeners have been working without pay since funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Feb. 14. (boston.com) The Department of Homeland Security posted that 366 TSA officers had quit nationwide during the shutdown period. (wcvb.com) National reporting shows more than 300 officer separations overall and an increase in unscheduled absences to roughly 6% agencywide, with some airports—JFK among them—seeing callout rates spike into double digits. (abcnews.com) Massport said Logan has not yet experienced staffing shortfalls at checkpoints and pledged to notify the public if screening capacity is affected. (wcvb.com) Burlington International Airport organized a food drive and weekly hot-meal distribution for local TSA employees missing paychecks, while airline CEOs urged Congress in an open letter to restore DHS funding ahead of a spring travel season projected at about 171 million passengers. (mynbc5.com (wcvb.com))
