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Record security queues hit US airports amid shutdown
Passengers at major US airports are enduring security wait times exceeding four hours as the partial government shutdown forces Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to skip work without pay.
Houston airport worst hit by staff shortages
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is operating with only 33% to 50% of its usual TSA checkpoints after nearly 40% of its security staff called in sick-the highest absentee rate nationwide. Airport officials warn the situation is unsustainable, particularly during spring break, when passenger volumes are at peak levels.
Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System, said the airport is processing "100% spring break loads through less than 50% of our TSA lanes."
Upcoming events to worsen delays
A surge of travelers is expected this weekend due to major sporting events, including the Astros' season opener, a golf tournament, and NCAA Tournament games. To mitigate the crisis, the TSA plans to deploy 24 additional officers from its National Deployment Office to Houston on Thursday, according to the mayor's office.
Federal agencies step in amid staffing crisis
The Trump administration has redeployed hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to 14 airports, including Houston, New York, and Atlanta, to assist with screening. President Donald Trump praised the move on Wednesday, calling the agents' performance "unbelievable" and hinting at deploying the National Guard if necessary.
Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, accusing them of refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without new restrictions on ICE, following public backlash over the shooting of two US citizens in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, Democrats have rejected Republican proposals to fund TSA separately, insisting on broader DHS funding negotiations.
TSA attrition raises long-term concerns
A top TSA official revealed that over 450 agents have resigned since the shutdown began, exacerbating staffing shortages. While this represents a small fraction of the agency's 50,000-strong workforce, the combination of resignations and absences is creating severe bottlenecks.
During congressional testimony on Wednesday, TSA Acting Chief Ha Nguyen McNeill warned that the turnover could have "dire" consequences for airport security ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which the US will co-host this summer.
"At this point, if we bring on any new [TSA agents], those folks will not be deployed in time by FIFA," McNeill said. "If we see any spikes [in attrition], we'll have to pivot and assess how we're going to staff the FIFA locations adequately."
Private sector offer rejected
Billionaire Elon Musk's proposal to personally fund TSA workers' salaries during the shutdown was rejected by the White House on Wednesday, according to CBS News sources. The standoff shows no signs of resolution as both parties remain deadlocked over immigration policy.
