*Security lines at major U.S. airports have stretched to more than three hours as the partial government shutdown continues and spring break travel ramps up.
According to Travel and Leisure, Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) reported waits exceeding three hours, while Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), and Charlotte Douglas (CLT) all saw lines around an hour, according to TSA.
The shutdown, now lasting over three weeks, has created staffing shortages that have intensified the delays. TSA employees have not received full paychecks, placing financial strain on agents and contributing to absenteeism. The Department of Homeland Security called on Congress to fund the agency, highlighting the financial hardship faced by TSA workers.
“These frontline heroes received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages,” said Lauren Bis, the deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS.
Scroll to continue reading
“I’m not surprised that we’re now starting to see the ripple effects of [the shutdown] in the way of longer TSA lines due to the fact that there’s less people working… And unfortunately, we could see this each day,” Katy Nastro, a travel expert with Going.com, told T+L, adding, “Unfortunately, TSA workers have now not received pay, and that can really put a burden financially on these agents that are expected to show up day after day.”
Nastro added, “Families are traveling a lot more, and [there] is going to be a consistent uptick in the amount of people traveling for the next few weeks,” she said. “Because, as we know, spring break is not just one exact week out of the entire year, it’s a combination of weeks across a two month time period.”
To navigate the delays, experts recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. New Orleans’ airport urged travelers to plan for at least three hours in advance this week, warning that delays could persist. Real-time updates on TSA wait times are also available on some airport websites.
In addition to longer checkpoint lines, the Global Entry program remains suspended, potentially extending waits for international arrivals. Travelers are encouraged to use the free Mobile Passport Control app to speed up customs processing, though results can vary by airport.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: TSA Introduces $45 Identity Verification Option for Travelers Without REAL ID
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE
