Trending Now - Government Shutdown Sparks Travel Delays and Security Changes

WHO:

Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator, stated that about 61,000 TSA employees must keep working during the shutdown.

Lauren Bis, DHS deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, said, "Today, travelers are facing TSA lines of up to nearly 3 hours long at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel."

President Trump, Lauren Bis (DHS deputy assistant secretary for public affairs), Ha Nguyen McNeill (senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator), Johnny Jones (secretary-treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100), TSA employees, TSA screeners, Congress, Senate Democrats, Republicans.

WHAT:

TSA officer call-out rates have climbed into double-digit percentages at some airports, with 53% of officers at Houston's Hobby Airport calling out on March 8th, 2026, and 47% on March 9th, 2026.

The highest nationwide absence rate reached 9% on February 23rd, 2026, followed by 8% on March 6th, 2026, and 7% on March 9th, 2026.

TSA recorded 305 employee separations between February 14th and March 9th, 2026.

The highest single-day count of operational "hotspots" reached 87 on March 8th, 2026.

Security wait times at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport stretched to more than three hours on March 8th, 2026.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported TSA waits could extend up to two hours and advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flight.

The TSA website and app paused operations on February 17th, 2026, and will not be updated until funding is enacted.

JetBlue issued a travel advisory on March 9th, 2026, recommending passengers arrive at least 3 hours before domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.

TSA officer call-out rates have climbed into double-digit percentages at some airports, with 53% of officers at Houston's Hobby Airport calling out on March 8th, 2026, and 47% on March 9th, 2026.

At John F. Kennedy International Airport, TSA officers averaged a 21% absence rate during the shutdown, the highest among major airports.

The highest nationwide absence rate reached 9% on February 23rd, 2026, followed by 8% on March 6th, 2026, and 7% on March 9th, 2026.

TSA recorded 305 employee separations between February 14th and March 9th, 2026.

The highest single-day count of operational "hotspots" reached 87 on March 8th, 2026.

Security wait times at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport stretched to more than three hours on March 8th, 2026.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported TSA waits could extend up to two hours and advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flight.

TSA officials warn that prolonged funding gaps can have lasting effects on the screening workforce, as employees struggling to cover basic expenses may leave the job entirely.

Lauren Bis, DHS deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, stated, "These political stunts force patriotic TSA officers, who protect our skies from serious threats, to work without pay."

Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100, said, "It seems like (lawmakers) are having a problem doing their job, which is passing funding bill would allow us to be paid."

A DHS spokesperson stated that TSA employees were being forced to work without pay "for the THIRD time in nearly six months."

Unscheduled absences among airport security officers have more than doubled during the ongoing DHS shutdown, with over 300 employees leaving the agency since February 14th, 2026.

The nationwide callout rate for TSA officers has risen to an average of 6% during the shutdown, compared to about 2% before the funding lapsed.

At Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, 53% of officers called out on March 8th, 2026, and 47% called out the following day.

The highest nationwide absence rate reached 9% on February 23rd, 2026, followed by 8% on March 6th, 2026, and 7% on March 9th, 2026.

TSA recorded 305 employee separations between February 14th and March 9th, 2026.

The highest single-day count of operational "hotspots" reached 87 on March 8th, 2026.

Security wait times at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport stretched to more than three hours on March 8th, 2026.

At John F. Kennedy International Airport, TSA officers averaged a 21% absence rate during the shutdown, the highest among major airports.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is experiencing a partial government shutdown, causing massive delays at airports.

TSA agents are receiving partial paychecks and are about to miss their first full paycheck on March 14th, 2026.

Wait times at major airports have reached up to 3.5 hours due to officer shortages.

The TSA website and app paused operations on February 17th, 2026, and will not be updated until funding is enacted.

JetBlue issued a travel advisory recommending passengers arrive at least 3 hours before domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.

TSA workers make an average salary of $35,000.

WHERE:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

WHEN:

The DHS funding lapse began on February 14th, 2026.

TSA employees received a partial paycheck on February 28th, 2026, and will miss their first full paycheck on March 14th, 2026.

The DHS shutdown has lasted nearly a month as of March 10th, 2026.

Global Entry will be restored on March 11th, 2026, at 5:00 AM ET.

The DHS funding lapse began on February 14th, 2026.

TSA employees received a partial paycheck on February 28th, 2026, and will miss their first full paycheck on March 14th, 2026.

The DHS funding lapse began in mid-February 2026.

TSA employees received a partial paycheck on February 28th, 2026.

The first full paycheck will be missed on March 14th, 2026.

The DHS shutdown has lasted nearly a month as of March 10th, 2026.

President Trump fired Secretary Kristi Noem last week (on March 3rd, 2026) and appointed Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her starting March 31st, 2026.

WHY:

The shutdown is a result of a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over immigration reform, with Senate Democrats calling for changes to rules governing immigration enforcement operations.

The shutdown is a result of a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over immigration reform.

The DHS is the last federal agency not funded by Congress for the rest of the fiscal year, which runs until September 30th, 2026.

HOW:

TSA is advising passengers to arrive "as early as possible" to avoid missing flights due to increased wait times.

TSA officials warn that prolonged funding gaps can have lasting effects on the screening workforce, as employees struggling to cover basic expenses may leave the job entirely.

The agency has tracked incidents where staffing shortages threaten to slow checkpoint operations, with Houston recording 44 such incidents during the shutdown.

TSA is advising passengers to arrive "as early as possible" to avoid missing flights due to increased wait times.

Some TSA employees are taking unscheduled time off due to financial hardship caused by the shutdown.

TSA PreCheck lines remain open at most airports, allowing quicker security screening for verified travelers.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 09:08 UTC)

Today, travelers are facing significant delays at major airports, with TSA lines stretching up to nearly three hours, as about 61,000 TSA employees continue to work during the ongoing DHS shutdown. Call-out rates among TSA officers have surged, with 53% absent at Houston's Hobby Airport on March 8, and the highest nationwide absence rate reaching 9% just a few weeks ago. As the shutdown, which began on February 14, continues due to a standoff over immigration reform, TSA is urging passengers to arrive as early as possible to avoid missing their flights.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 07:19 UTC)

TSA call-out rates have surged at several airports, with a staggering 53% of officers at Houston's Hobby Airport absent on March 8 and 47% the following day, while John F. Kennedy International Airport reported a 21% absence rate during the ongoing shutdown. The shutdown, which began on February 14, is tied to a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over immigration reform, and TSA officials warn that prolonged funding gaps could lead to lasting impacts on the screening workforce. As security wait times reach over three hours in Houston and up to two hours in New Orleans, TSA is urging passengers to arrive as early as possible to avoid missing their flights.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 23:05 UTC)

The ongoing DHS shutdown has led to a significant increase in unscheduled absences among airport security officers, with over 300 employees leaving the TSA since February 14, 2026, and the nationwide callout rate for TSA officers rising to an average of 6%. At Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, 53% of officers called out on March 8, leading to security wait times that stretched to more than three hours, while John F. Kennedy International Airport reported the highest absence rate among major airports at 21%. TSA officials are warning that these prolonged funding gaps could have lasting effects on the screening workforce, as staffing shortages have already threatened to slow checkpoint operations, with Houston recording 44 incidents during the shutdown.

(UPDATED March 10, 2026 11:13 UTC)

Today, the Department of Homeland Security is facing a partial government shutdown that has led to significant delays at major airports, with wait times reaching up to three and a half hours due to officer shortages. TSA employees, who typically earn around $35,000 a year, received a partial paycheck on February 28 and are set to miss their first full paycheck on March 14, as the standoff between Republicans and Democrats over immigration reform continues. In light of these delays, JetBlue has advised passengers to arrive at least three hours early for domestic flights and four hours for international flights, while TSA PreCheck lines remain open for quicker screening.