TSA Workers Miss Paychecks as Airport Security Lines Stretch Hours

Unpaid officers trigger cascading delays nationwide

Travelers across the United States face security lines stretching past 90 minutes as Transportation Security Administration officers work without pay during a partial government shutdown. The breakdown in airport operations stems directly from Congress's inability to fund the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA workers without paychecks while they continue screening passengers at the nation's busiest airports.

The impact accelerated sharply over the weekend. On Sunday, the national callout rate among TSA officers reached 10.19 percent, the highest rate recorded during the shutdown. At John F. Kennedy International Airport, 28.2 percent of officers did not report for duty. In Austin, Texas, the airport posted photos at 4:30 a.m. showing passengers lined up outside security checkpoints, with the facility expecting 38,000 travelers that day and asking people to arrive at least 2.5 hours before domestic flights.

More than 300 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and Pittsburgh International Airport recorded the highest callout rates as of Monday.

The human cost of missed paychecks

Deondre White, a TSA officer at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, told Fox News Digital that officers are struggling to afford basic necessities. "It's difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid," White said, explaining that he relies on family support to cover gas for his commute. He noted that many of his colleagues lack such resources and questioned how they sustain themselves without income.

White emphasized that despite financial hardship, officers remain committed to security operations. "When we're here, we will do our best as always. We have a crucial mission. We do take that very seriously," he said.

A union official warned that the situation approaches a breaking point. Chris Sununu, governor of New Hampshire and former chair of Airlines for America, called the circumstances untenable. "What else is more important than paying your own workers?" Sununu asked. "Have your political fights on the side, but don't drag down the entire traveling American public because of it."

Congress deadlocked over DHS funding

The shutdown stems from disagreement over immigration policy. Democrats have withheld support for any spending bill that funds the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, turning down multiple compromise offers. Republicans have refused to advance funding that excludes immigration-related agencies.

Representative Nick Langworthy, a New York Republican, introduced legislation Monday to address the crisis. His Pay TSA Act would create a Transportation Security Trust Fund funded by the Aviation Passenger Security Fee, the $5.60 charge per one-way trip and up to $11.20 for round-trips that airlines already collect from passengers. The fee was established following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

"This is now the third time in just six months that TSA agents have been forced to work without receiving a paycheck," Langworthy told Fox News Digital. "Morale and recruitment are taking a profound hit, and we've already lost more than 300 agents, putting the agency's mission at grave risk." He warned that inaction constitutes "a national security crisis waiting to happen."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Monday that Democrats would attempt to force a vote on funding all of DHS except immigration-related agencies, a proposal Republicans have not signaled support for.

Airlines and travelers caught in the middle

Major airline CEOs sent a letter to Congress on Sunday demanding action. "That is simply unacceptable," they wrote, describing the impact on workers' ability to pay basic bills. The airlines face operational pressure as well, with longer security lines forcing some to adjust schedules and passengers to arrive hours earlier than normal.

Travelers in Texas have been asked to arrive hours early for flights to accommodate longer wait times for security. The convergence of spring break travel, incoming storms, and staffing shortages created particularly acute delays at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and other major hubs over the weekend.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called on Democrats to resolve the impasse. "I hope Democrats will come to their senses, open up DHS," he said on Fox News, placing responsibility for the shutdown on the opposition party. Democratic Senator Mark Warner countered that Republicans should accept a budget that covers all agencies except those related to immigration reform.