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TSA Forced to Consolidate Lanes, May Have to Close Small Airports as Funding Deal Stalls
Over 40% callout rates and 480 resignations have led TSA to warn of possible small airport closures and record wait times during the partial DHS government shutdown.
- The Transportation Security Administration warned Wednesday that some airports may have to close temporarily due to staffing shortages from the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, with Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill stating the agency is "being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports if we do not have enough officers."
- More than 3,100 TSA employees nationwide failed to report for work on Tuesday as the agency entered its 86th day without funding, while Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked on a funding deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.
- Multiple airports are experiencing callout rates exceeding 40%, with air travelers facing record wait times; at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, roughly 40% of staff called out, leaving as few as a third of security lanes operational and wait times regularly exceeding four hours.
- Early this week, the Trump administration deployed ICE and federal agents to airports, though White House Border Czar Tom Homan clarified they will not handle security screening; meanwhile, President Trump considered deploying the National Guard to manage crowds Wednesday, and two dozen TSA rapid response members arrive Thursday in Houston.
- Sen. Dick Durbin highlighted partisan divisions by stating "we have differences of opinion when it comes to ICE," while travelers sympathize with TSA workers struggling to feed their families, and the agency warns conditions could worsen without a funding resolution.
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25 Articles
25 Articles
In the United States, for almost a month and a half, airport security workers have not received the salary for partial shutdown. Thousands of people have lost their flights, airlines delay flights
·Italy
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Airports May Close If DHS Shutdown Continues: TSA Official
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told Congress on March 25 that airports might close if the partial government shutdown continues. “At this point, we have to look at all options on the table. We don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing how we maintain our operations,” TSA acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told House Homeland Security Committee lawmakers on March 25. “And that does require us to, at some point, make very…
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution96% Center
Bias Distribution
- 96% of the sources are Center
96% Center
C 96%
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