Record security delays at US airports amid TSA staff shortages

International

DHS shutdown leads to absentee rates of up to 50 percent among screeners and security wait times exceeding four hours

Passengers at major airports across the United States are facing record security wait times as staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worsen during the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Speaking before lawmakers on Wednesday, Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said absentee rates among Transportation Security Officers have increased sharply during the funding impasse. At some airports, between 40 and 50 percent of security screeners have reportedly called in absent.

“Because they simply cannot afford to report to work,” McNeill said, noting that the typical call-out rate before the shutdown had been around four percent.

Security delays reach historic levels

The lack of staff has forced many airports to consolidate security screening lanes, significantly slowing passenger processing. According to the TSA, waiting times at some airports have already exceeded four and a half hours, marking the longest delays recorded in the agency’s history.

The situation could worsen further if staffing levels do not stabilise. McNeill warned that smaller regional airports may face temporary closures if the number of available screeners continues to decline.

She described the situation as “fluid, challenging and unpredictable”.

Federal shutdown strains aviation system

The shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has left thousands of federal employees, including TSA officers, working without pay. The financial pressure has intensified operational challenges across the country’s aviation system.

According to the agency, hundreds of TSA officers have already resigned during the funding standoff, while thousands of others have taken leave, further exacerbating delays at major US airports.