US EditionTSA officers are quitting as a funding standoff forces them to staff airports without pay
About 10% of 50,000 TSA officers nationwide missed work amid unpaid shifts during the shutdown, causing staffing shortages and long delays at major U.S. airports, officials said.
- On Friday, March 20, 2026, security lines at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport stretched beyond two hours as staffing shortages from the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown forced checkpoint closures and flight delays nationwide.
- Spanning 35 days, the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown has forced 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers to work without pay, with at least 376 agents resigning since Valentine's Day as financial pressures intensify.
- Atlanta union leader Aaron Barker said officers face severe hardship, noting some cannot afford "copayments for cancer treatments or office visits for their sick children," while nationwide absenteeism reached 10% on Thursday.
- With a critical two-week recess starting March 27, 2026, negotiators remain deadlocked over DHS funding; workers warn the deadline could trigger further departures if lawmakers fail to reach a deal.
- Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned that without restored funding, staffing crises will likely worsen; historical data shows attrition rose 25% following the previous 43-day shutdown, threatening long-term operational readiness.
55 Articles
55 Articles
TSA callouts threaten to shut airports down completely as Dem shutdown persists
The TSA officers who haven't been paid since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown on Feb. 14, are calling out and quitting in record numbers, leading to experts predict airports across the country will start to shut down.
After a month without a salary, TSA workers are no longer working, causing long lines at U.S. airports.
Homeland Security funding stalemate causes unpredictable airport security lines
As lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain in a stalemate regarding funding for Homeland Security, TSA employees are working without pay, causing unpredictable security lines at airports across the country.I went to Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus to check in with travelers and get insight from travel experts on the shutdown and TSA operations. Lines have not been too bad at Metro Airport, but travel experts say that could change depending on how long…
Associated Press News
TSA officers are quitting as a funding standoff forces them to staff airports without pay
The public is experiencing the consequences of a partial U.S. government shutdown in long wait times at some airports as Transportation Security Officers take time off to manage the financial strain.
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