For travelers hoping to board a plane this week, inclement weather and long security lines are likely to cause headaches at the airport.
As a partial government shutdown affecting Transportation Security Administration funding drags on, TSA officers have been calling out of work at high rates after missing their first full paycheck.
“It’s devastating to their finances,” Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100 and a Dallas-based TSA worker, told USA TODAY. “My family had to get rid of our vacation plans, and everybody’s having struggles. There are a lot of people who don’t have money for food, gas, and childcare; it’s a sad state of affairs.”
Jones acknowledged that TSA agents have been calling out of work, saying that many have had to seek other ways of earning income as the shutdown continues.
“There’s no end in sight; they don’t know how long this is going to go on,” he said.
For travelers, the long lines can be frustrating and stressful.
Are the Long Security Lines at Airports Real?
Yes, but they can vary.
At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, the line was out the door just to get inside on March 16, while over at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, the wait times were reportedly under 5 minutes.
AUS posted footage on X showing the general security line for its Checkpoint 1 stretching out of the building, well past the sidewalk out front and into a walking path at 4:30 a.m. local time on March 16. The video pans past flyers with backpacks and rolling suitcases, alternately inching forward and standing still under a dark sky as they make their way to the indoor screening area. By 5:30 a.m., the line had shortened a bit and moved inside by 5:41, according to subsequent posts, though the airport noted it was “still seeing some lines outside for general screening with CLEAR.”
Since the TSA agent call-outs aren’t planned, wait times at airports can be unpredictable.
Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, told USA TODAY that even the threat of long security lines can disrupt travel.
“The callouts aren’t systematic, that’s why travelers are facing the threat of really long lines and that unpredictability of not knowing whether it’s going to be a 15 minute wait time or a three hour wait time,” he said, noting that travelers have to prepare for the worst case when heading to the airport, even if they ultimately don’t have to wait in long lines.
USTA is calling on members of Congress to pass legislation to end the shutdown and restore smoother travel.
Many flyers have taken to social media to note how unusual and confusing the situation can be.
“I have never seen anything like the TSA lines at LaGuardia right now. INSANE,” one user wrote on Bluesky. “Pretty sure the line goes all the way back to Midtown.”
“We are outcome specific in that we want to make sure (TSA officers) are paid, that they show up to work and receive the paychecks they deserve for keeping Americans safe when they fly,” Hansen said. “We are letting (members of Congress) know that this is unacceptable, that they’re keeping America waiting, slowing America down.”
What if I Miss My Flight Because of the Long Lines at TSA?
You’re not entitled to a refund if you miss your flight because of long security lines, so make sure you leave extra time at the airport if you’re traveling during the shutdown.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on whether there’s been a significant change in passengers missing their flights. United Airlines said it had no data to share.
When Will TSA Lines Go Back to Normal?
It depends.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson (TSA is part of DHS) told USA TODAY in a statement that security screening delays are likely to increase as the shutdown drags on.
“American travelers across the country are facing hours-long airport lines, that will worsen as this shutdown continues,” the statement said. “More than 300 TSA officers have quit since the DHS shutdown began and callouts are approximately double the normal rate.”
The spokesperson said DHS anticipates the number of resignations and call-outs to increase the longer the shutdown lasts. While TSA agents missed their first full paycheck on March 13, most had only received partial payment in the previous pay period.
“When you get a partial paycheck, when you expect $2,000 and you receive $500, and then you expect $2,000 and you receive zero, you’re now $3,500 in the hole,” Jones said. “I don’t have anybody I can call and ask for $3,500.”
For travelers, the best thing to do for now is to leave extra time at the airport and check your airport’s website and social media for the most up-to-date information about wait times, since the TSA pages aren’t being updated during the shutdown.
Also, remember to treat the TSA officers who do show up to work with respect.
“If you get stuck in a long line and you’re in a position where you’re going to miss your flight, just know, or if your lines are long and you make your flight, just know it’s not the fault of the TSA officer. The people who came to work are making sure to follow the policies and procedures to make sure you get to your destination safely,” Jones said. “Just because the line is long, we’re not going to deviate from those policies and procedures; the risk is too high in the situation we find ourselves in.”
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York, and you can reach him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some TSA lines are minutes, others hours. What’s going on?
Reporting by Zach Wichter, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect