Travelers across the United States are facing significant delays at airport security checkpoints as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown continues, leaving Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers without pay for weeks. Staffing shortages have intensified, leading to longer screening times and growing frustration among passengers.
On Friday morning, major airports in Houston, Texas, and Queens, New York, reported wait times of up to two hours during peak travel periods. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, one of the busiest international hubs, saw security wait times reaching 42 minutes at Terminal 4. The airport advised passengers to allow extra time, stating that additional customer care staff had been deployed to manage queues.
The delays come as airports prepare for a busy spring travel season. Airlines for America estimates that around 121 million passengers will fly in the coming weeks, a 4% increase compared to last year. Videos on social media showed long lines at airports, with George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston warning: “Long lines continue. Give yourself time.”
The DHS shutdown began in mid-February after funding lapsed due to a Senate deadlock over stricter immigration enforcement regulations. Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned that smaller airports may have to shut down if call-out rates rise, as the national deployment force has been fully depleted. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that travel chaos will worsen if the shutdown persists, with TSA workers about to miss another payment.
As of Friday morning, FlightAware reported 2,551 flight delays and 105 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States.
