TSA Officers Forced to Work Without Pay Amid DHS Funding Shutdown
A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which took effect early Saturday, is directly impacting the Transportation Security Administration, the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day government shutdown that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.
TSA officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on DHS’s annual funding. Although TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended on November 12, aviation experts warn that this situation may unfold differently due to lingering financial strains on the workforce.
Key Differences in This Shutdown
Funding for Homeland Security expired at midnight, but the rest of the federal government is funded through September 30. This means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations. According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working.
Democrats in the House and Senate have stated that DHS will not receive funding until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations, following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis last month. During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to build over time, not overnight. For example, about a month into last year’s shutdown, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport, and the government ordered commercial airlines to reduce domestic flight schedules.
Impact on Travelers and Airport Operations
It is challenging to predict whether, when, or where security screening snags might occur. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times, particularly at smaller airports with single security checkpoints. Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines have warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at commercial airports could become.
John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, noted that strains could surface more quickly this time because the TSA workforce still remembers the last shutdown. "It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks," Rose said. Travelers like John Clark, who frequently travels for work, expressed concern, stating, "You might not be able to get home if you’re already out, or it might delay if you worked all week and you’re trying to get home. It’s really bad."
Preparing for Potential Delays
Experts advise travelers to plan ahead by arriving early and allowing extra time to get through security. Rich Davis, senior security adviser at risk mitigation company International SOS, explained that airlines might delay departures to wait for passengers to clear screening, and shortages of TSA officers could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.
Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but Rose cautioned against waiting until the day of a flight to check them. "You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours. Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven’t left for the airport yet," he said. Passengers should also pay close attention while packing, avoiding prohibited items like full-size liquids or pocketknives in carry-on bags, as these can prolong the screening process.
Broader Implications and Calls for Resolution
The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the end of the week before senators and members of Congress left Washington for a 10-day break. Lawmakers in both chambers are on notice to return if a deal to end the shutdown is struck.
In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association warned that the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches. "Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights," the statement said.
As Burnest R. Green, who flew to Detroit from Phoenix for his sister’s birthday, remarked, "I just hope that things start to get better before they get any worse." With over 63,000 TSA workers affected, the shutdown underscores the critical need for a swift resolution to prevent further travel chaos.
