Unpaid employees at the Transportation Security Administration say staffing pressures are slowing down airport security lines and increasing financial stress.
TSA lines stretch for hours as Department of Homeland Security shuts down
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has caused chaos, with TSA lines stretching for hours.
- Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay during the partial government shutdown.
- Many TSA employees are struggling financially, with some reporting zero or negative bank account balances.
- Long security lines at airports are a result of the closure, as some employees have other jobs.
With the partial government shutdown continuing and Transportation Security Administration employees working without pay, many are struggling to make ends meet.
The partial shutdown began in mid-February after Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA. Approximately 50,000 TSA employees have continued to work, but have not been paid their regular paychecks while the funding lapses, raising concerns about staffing shortages and absenteeism as spring break travel increases.
“Many employees have reported to me that their bank accounts are zero or negative,” Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100 and a Dallas-based TSA official, told USA TODAY. “There’s no money for day care, there’s no money for food. They just want to know why they’re not getting paid when they have the money to shoot missiles at other countries.”
Friday, March 13 will mark the first time TSA employees will not be paid their full pay.
As TSA agents look for ways to fill their own financial gaps, Jones acknowledged that airport security lines have gotten longer.
“A significant portion of our employees perform other duties outside of their TSA duties,” he said. “I hope they don’t beg at the airport. Some are staying there instead of leaving the airport, sleeping in their cars to save money on gas and enhance their working lives.”
As a result, fewer employees are reporting to work, with White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt saying in a March 11 social media post, “300 (TSA) employees have quit,” citing a CBS News report. According to the same CBS report, the percentage of officers on duty has more than doubled since the shutdown began, with some airports seeing more than 50% of TSA’s front-line workers absent on some days.
“Travelers are currently facing TSA lines of up to nearly three hours at some major airports, resulting in flight cancellations and significant delays during peak travel times,” TSA previously told USA TODAY in a statement. “These frontline heroes, who received only a portion of their paycheck earlier this month, are now facing not being paid their full paycheck for the first time, leading to financial hardship, absenteeism, and devastating staffing shortages.”
Some airports, such as Denver International Airport (DEN), have begun collections to provide basic assistance to TSA officers.
“Again, DEN’s federal employees are working tirelessly without pay to ensure the efficient and safe operation of our airports. TSA employees have just missed their first paycheck and as we enter the busy spring break travel period, we want to do what we can to ease the stress of this moment,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said in a statement. “That’s why we’re asking the public, passengers, and other airport employees to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to help make this moment a little more bearable for federal employees.”
The collection is intended to help TSA employees purchase essential items while they are not receiving a paycheck.
“Gift cards donated are from stores such as King Soopers, Safeway, Walmart, Costco, and Target. Ideal gift cards include stores that sell both gas and food. Gift cards should only have a $10 or $20 denomination. Visa gift cards are not accepted,” the event description states.
Jones added that other airports have similar philanthropic efforts, but it can be difficult to get and distribute support at larger airports. He noted that as a result of the lack of funding, some TSA employees have lost their housing because they are unable to pay rent on their monthly leases.
“We took an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect the people, and the people elected to Congress took the same oath, but they are not doing their jobs and they are not funding the government,” Jones said. “We are caught up in partisan politics.”
Does TSA PreChek, Global Entry still work?
Despite the disruption, DHS and TSA say rapid testing programs remain available. TSA PreCheck continues to work, allowing registered travelers to pass through dedicated lanes and generally not having to remove their belts or light jackets during screening. Under pressure from airlines and lawmakers concerned about further delays at airport checkpoints, the agency reversed previous plans to suspend the program, but officials warned that TSA PreCheck lanes could be closed on a case-by-case basis depending on staffing levels during the closure.
DHS announced that the Global Entry Line will reopen on March 11, saying the changes are intended to reduce confusion for travelers during the closure.
How can I check the wait times in the TSA line at the airport?
Travelers worried about long security lines can check real-time wait time estimates before heading to the airport.
TSA publishes historical and live checkpoint wait time information on the MyTSA mobile app and TSA website, which travelers can search by airport and time of day.
As the government shutdown continues, travelers should be aware that some information on the TSA website has not been updated, the agency said in a Feb. 17 statement. Banners on the TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection websites warn: “Due to the expiration of federal funding, this website will no longer be actively managed.”
This differs from the previous government shutdown, which lasted from October to November 2025, when TSA security wait times continued to update as usual.
Now, the TSA confirmed in an email to USA TODAY that both the MyTSA mobile app and the agency’s wait time tracker are down due to the partial U.S. government shutdown, which is now in its fourth week.
The app is also supposed to show if TSA PreCheck lanes are open. However, some airports publish their own checkpoint wait times on the airport’s official website or social media feed. Checking these before leaving for the airport will help travelers decide whether they need to arrive earlier than usual.
Contributors: Michelle Del Rey and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and can be reached at zwichter@usatoday.com.
