Government funding impasse is making the TSA travel experience even worse
Mar 19, 2026
Funding shortages at TSA are leading to long lines and lots of frustration at airports all across the country.In Atlanta, the TSA line snaked through the airport, with travelers waiting more than an hour on Thursday morning. In
Philadelphia, some checkpoints were temporarily closed.The travel turbulence is the result of approximately 10% of TSA's 50,000 security agents calling out amid a partial government shutdown that's keeping them from getting a paycheck.RELATED TORY | CEOs of top airlines demand Congress restore funding to Homeland Security and pay airport workersSome airports, like Houstons and Atlantas, are seeing 38% of TSA workers calling out this week, while travelers elsewhere havent been as impacted.Lawmakers appear no closer to funding the Department of Homeland Security, which funds the TSA. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to blame each other for the impasse.Airlines are pleading with Democrats to please fund the Department of Homeland Security, said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.Republicans have decided to force TSA agents to work without pay, said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.RELATED NEWS | TSA warns some small US airports could close amid shutdownWith no solution in sight, theres concern the lines and wait times will only continue to grow."As the weeks continue, our, TSA officers, as long as they dont get paid, they're going to continue to call out, they cant afford to come in. And theyre going to quit altogether," said TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl. "The reality of this situation is this is going to get worse before it gets better if we dont see any sort of action from Congress."
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