TSA Shortages Cause Historic Wait Times at Major US Airports Amid Shutdown

(MENAFN) Travelers passing through major airports across the United States are facing exceptionally long security lines as staffing levels within the Transportation Security Administration continue to decline amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, according to statements made to lawmakers on Wednesday.

Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill explained that absenteeism among Transportation Security Officers has risen dramatically, with some airports seeing between 40% and 50% of screeners failing to report for duty, as stated by reports.

“Because they simply cannot afford to report to work,” McNeill said, noting that the call-out rate stood around 4% before the shutdown.

Due to the reduced workforce, airports have been forced to limit the number of open screening lanes, causing significant bottlenecks. In some instances, passengers have reportedly waited more than four and a half hours to pass through security — the longest delays ever recorded by the agency.

McNeill cautioned that if staffing shortages persist, smaller airports may be forced to shut down temporarily, describing the evolving situation as “fluid, challenging and unpredictable.”

The ongoing funding lapse within the Department of Homeland Security has left thousands of federal employees, including TSA personnel, without pay, intensifying pressure on the nation’s air travel infrastructure.

According to reports, hundreds of TSA officers have already stepped down from their roles, while thousands more have been absent during the budget impasse, further compounding delays at key transportation hubs.

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