TSA Agents to Receive Pay Amid Government Shutdown, Airport Delays Expected to Continue
Transportation Security Administration officers are set to receive their paychecks following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, aimed at alleviating the severe staffing crisis that has plagued airports across the United States. However, travel experts caution that passengers should brace for extended security wait times that could persist for another week or two despite this financial relief.
Immediate Payment Ordered but Impact Uncertain
President Trump's executive order, issued on Friday, directs the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA officers immediately. This intervention comes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, coinciding with spring breaks at schools and colleges nationwide, along with the upcoming Passover and Easter holidays. White House border czar Tom Homan expressed optimism that TSA agents would receive their wages by Monday or Tuesday, providing crucial support to workers who have been struggling financially during the partial government shutdown.
"These TSA officers are struggling," Homan stated during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union. "They can't feed their families or pay their rent. Your heart goes out to them because they're sitting there right now, working very hard and not being paid by members of Congress who are on vacation and getting paid. It's ridiculous."
Airport Operations Remain Disrupted
Major airports continue to experience significant disruptions, with security checkpoint wait times remaining longer than normal. Baltimore-Washington International Airport officials reported Sunday morning that while wait times had improved slightly from Saturday, they still exceeded typical levels. The airport, along with other major hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City, continues to recommend that passengers arrive hours ahead of their scheduled departures.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced Saturday evening that additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were being deployed to BWI airport to assist at TSA security checkpoints. Moore emphasized that these agents were there "to speed up the clearance process for passengers — not immigration enforcement."
Staffing Crisis Deepens During Shutdown
The partial government shutdown has taken a severe toll on TSA staffing nationwide. According to Department of Homeland Security data released Friday, more than 11.8% of scheduled TSA employees missed work on Thursday, marking the highest absentee rate recorded so far during the shutdown. Some airports experienced daily call-out rates as high as 40%, while nearly 500 of the agency's approximately 50,000 officers have resigned since the shutdown began.
Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA officer who now operates the travel newsletter Gate Access, explained that the staffing crisis won't improve significantly until officers feel confident they won't face additional skipped paychecks. "If it's only for a pay period, that's not enough to bring them back," Harmon-Marshall noted. "It has to be extended pay for them to come back or want to stay there." He estimates that longer security lines could linger for another week or two even after payments resume.
Monitoring Wait Times During the Crisis
Travel experts advise passengers to check airport conditions frequently through official websites and social media channels, where airports provide timely updates and guidance. Many airports urged travelers on Saturday to allow at least four hours for both domestic and international security screenings. However, passengers should be aware that wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate during the shutdown, as TSA isn't actively managing its sites. Third-party websites tracking TSA lines might also provide outdated information if they rely on publicly available data that hasn't been updated.
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York cautioned in an advisory posted Saturday morning that "wait times can change quickly based on passenger volume and TSA staffing," highlighting the unpredictable nature of the current situation. As airports work to reopen checkpoints and expedite service lanes that were closed or consolidated due to inadequate staffing, passengers are advised to remain flexible and patient while traveling during this challenging period.
