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As the partial government shutdown drags on, mounting staffing shortages at airport security checkpoints are creating widespread disruption across the United States. With Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay, absentee rates have surged. This has led to some of the longest airport security lines seen in years. In some locations, more than half of TSA officers have called in sick on certain days and caused lines to snake around the airport and even outside.
The impact is increasingly visible for travelers. Security wait times have stretched dramatically, with lines at some airports exceeding several hours and, in extreme cases, extending outside terminal buildings. By many accounts, current wait times rank among the longest in recent memory, fueled by a combination of reduced staffing and peak spring break travel demand.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has had some of the worst lines throughout the shutdown and they just keep getting worse.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is also being particularly hard hit.
TSA employees are classified as essential workers and are required to continue working even during funding lapses, but the lack of pay has made it difficult for many to maintain regular attendance. As a result, absenteeism has spiked well above normal levels, creating staffing gaps that are difficult to fill and compounding delays at checkpoints nationwide.
Amid the worsening situation, President Donald Trump has suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could be deployed to assist at TSA checkpoints (claiming they could perform the role more effectively). The proposal has raised immediate questions about feasibility, training, and the overall approach to airport security. TSA officers undergo specialized training focused on passenger screening and aviation security procedures while ICE agents are primarily tasked with immigration enforcement.
Details surrounding the proposal remain unclear, including how quickly such a shift could be implemented and whether ICE personnel would be equipped to handle the technical and operational requirements of airport screening. The idea has drawn attention not only for its logistical challenges but also for the broader implications of altering how airport security is handled. The proposal comes at a time when the aviation system is already under significant stress. With staffing shortages worsening and travel demand surging, especially during busy travel periods, the pressure on airport operations continues to intensify.
Anthony’s Take: With no immediate resolution to the funding impasse, travelers should be prepared for continued delays and extended wait times at airport security. As the situation evolves, airport checkpoints remain one of the most visible pressure points in the broader impact of the government shutdown on everyday travel. I have to fly to New York and Boston this week and am bracing for the worst.
(Featured Image Credit: David Tran via iStock.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
