Airports across the United States are seeing shorter security lines and a return to more normal operations now that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have begun getting paid after a weeks-long partial government shutdown.
The shutdown left many TSA officers working without pay, which caused high absentee rates and long security lines at some airports. On Friday, March 27, President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use existing funds to pay the TSA workforce. This move provides immediate relief, though lawmakers in Congress still need to approve long-term funding. Congress is currently on a scheduled recess.
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Lauren Bis said in a statement that TSA has started the payment process right away. “TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as today,” she noted, adding that both TSA and DHS are grateful to get money back to the workers who continued doing their jobs.
Current Wait Times at Major Airports
As of Monday morning, March 30, many airports reported minimal or short security waits:
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) posted on X (formerly Twitter) at 8:20 a.m. ET that all four security checkpoints were open with minimal wait times.
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) reported about 10-minute waits around 9:30 a.m. ET, even though some checkpoints were temporarily closed.
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston showed waits of 5 to 12 minutes as of 9 a.m. CT, depending on the checkpoint.
These improvements come after days of much longer lines caused by staffing shortages.
High Call-Out Rates During the Shutdown
The partial shutdown led to record numbers of TSA officers calling out of work. The highest national call-out rate reached 12.35% on Friday, March 27. Even on Sunday, March 29—before pay started—10.59%, or 3,101 officers, did not report for work.
Some of the hardest-hit airports on Sunday included:
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): 38.5%
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston: 36.4%
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston: 34.1%
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): 34.1%
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 33.7%
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York: 29.6%
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): 23.4%
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): 23.0%
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York: 22.9%
These high absentee rates forced some airports to close checkpoints or scale back services like PreCheck and Clear, leading to delays for travelers.
Advice for Travelers
While many airports are now running more smoothly, conditions can still vary. Travelers should check real-time wait times on their airport’s website or app before heading out.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest, continues to recommend arriving at least four hours early for both domestic and international flights because of the ongoing federal situation. Normally, experts suggest arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international ones.
The payment order offers only a temporary solution. Long-term funding for the TSA depends on Congress reaching an agreement once lawmakers return from recess. In the meantime, the return of paychecks appears to be helping reduce call-outs and restore normal security operations at airports nationwide.