The partial government shutdown has caused widespread disruption at airports across the country as TSA employee absenteeism has skyrocketed, employees are forced to work without pay and travelers are forced to wait hours in security lines.
TSA employee absenteeism reached its highest level last weekend since the partial shutdown began five weeks ago, according to the Department of Homeland Security. More than one-third of TSA employees at airports in Houston, New York City and Atlanta were absent from work or called in sick, the agency said.
As a result, TSA lines and wait times at airports across the country have ballooned, forcing travelers to wait in long lines, some of which extend outside terminals.
Some airports, including major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, are encouraging travelers to arrive at least a few hours before their flight to give them enough time to get through security.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced that hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be sent to airports on Monday to help understaffed TSA operations. The president said White House border czar Tom Homan would be in charge of the effort.
DHS has said it would not release details about ICE deployments, but a person briefed on the matter told Reuters that the current plan is to deploy officers to 14 locations, but that number is subject to change.
As chaos continues at the airport, here’s how to check TSA wait times.
How to check TSA wait times
There are several ways to check TSA wait times, but some airports do not provide real-time updates.
Is the information on the MyTSA mobile app and TSA website up to date?
The TSA’s official website and app, MyTSA, have not been updated due to the ongoing government shutdown, 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.”
TSA previously confirmed to USA TODAY via email that both the MyTSA mobile app and the agency’s wait time tracker were down due to the partial shutdown.
This differs from the previous government shutdown, which lasted from October to November 2025, when TSA security wait times continued to update as usual.
How to check delays and cancellations
Passengers can also check directly if their flight has been delayed or canceled using the flight number on the airline’s website. Anyone who wants to check overall delays can do so on FlightAware, which tracks arrival and departure times for U.S. airports.
What happens if I miss my flight?
If you get stuck in a TSA line and miss your flight, don’t expect a refund from the airline.
Airlines must refund tickets if the flight is canceled, changed, or significantly delayed due to factors within the airline’s control. According to the Department of Transportation, airlines do not have to refund tickets if a flight is canceled or delayed due to weather or other reasons.
TSA wait times are not considered the airline’s responsibility, so delays in passing through security are not eligible for a refund.
Contributions: Melina Kahn, Zach Wictor, Thao Nguyen, Eileen Wright, Charles Ventura / USA TODAY
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Please contact mdelrey@usatoday.com..
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
