TSA Lines Hit Hours-Long Delays
Ongoing TSA staff shortages, exacerbated by a partial government shutdown, have led to hours-long security lines at major airports including Houston, New Orleans, and Atlanta. Travelers are advised to arrive at least three hours early to avoid missing flights.
The current partial government shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, is the second this year and centers on a political dispute over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The key sticking point is a disagreement over reforms to federal immigration enforcement following the killing of a nurse by Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis. This is the second time in five months that TSA employees have been forced to work without pay. The financial strain is a significant factor in the increased number of unscheduled absences, as many of the approximately 64,000 TSA officers live paycheck to paycheck. The first full missed paycheck for these workers is expected around March 14, coinciding with the peak of the busy spring break travel season. The staffing shortages are already having a significant impact, with Houston's Hobby Airport advising travelers to arrive four to five hours early. At Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, security lines have stretched into the parking garage. The travel industry has warned that these delays are causing passengers to miss flights. The political stalemate shows no immediate signs of resolution. The House passed a funding bill for DHS, but it has been blocked in the Senate. Democrats are pushing for changes to immigration enforcement tactics, while Republicans argue that it is a dangerous time to withhold funding from the DHS. The situation is exacerbated by a pre-existing strain on the TSA workforce. In late 2025, after a previous 43-day government shutdown, there was a more than 25% increase in the number of TSA officers leaving their jobs. This high attrition rate has made it more difficult for the agency to manage the current crisis. Adding to traveler woes, the popular Global Entry program, which allows for expedited customs processing, has been suspended since February 22 due to the shutdown. While TSA PreCheck remains operational after a brief suspension, the loss of Global Entry is adding to congestion at international arrival halls. The travel industry has been vocal in its calls for an end to the shutdown, launching a "Pay Federal Aviation Workers" campaign. Industry groups estimate that a previous shutdown in 2025 cost the travel industry $6 billion due to flight delays and cancellations. Looking ahead, the convergence of the missed paychecks for TSA agents and the surge in spring break travelers is expected to worsen airport delays. The ongoing shutdown also threatens the TSA's ability to implement surge staffing plans for the upcoming summer travel season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
