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Airport Delays · DHS Shutdown · Travel Industry · TSA Crisis
The Department of Homeland Security's partial shutdown has escalated the TSA crisis, causing five-hour security line waits at major airports like Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International, as nearly 400 TSA workers quit and call-out rates surged to over 10%, prompting warnings of further deterioration from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The DHS has been in a partial shutdown since February 14, with Democrats filibustering funding over immigration reform demands. TSA workers, many earning around $50,000 annually, missed their second full paycheck on March 13, following a partial one on February 28.
This marks the third shutdown endured by TSA employees in six months. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the situation will "get much worse," predicting more agents will quit or not report for duty if they miss another paycheck.
Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl stated that call-out rates have jumped from 2% to over 10% and some small airports face potential closure. To mitigate the chaos, President Trump announced plans to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports starting Monday.
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DHS Shutdown Escalates TSA Crisis, Airport Chaos Worsens(current)