"On Sunday, March 8, major hubs like Houston Hobby International Airport (HOU) and New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) reported TSA lines up to 3.5 hours long, with viral videos showing lines overflowing outside the terminal and into the parking lot. Early Friday morning, lines for security at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas stretched out the door for about two hours, according to local news reports."
"Staff absences have more than doubled since the funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended on February 14, CBS News reported, and DHS officials say that more than 300 TSA officers have quit since the current shutdown began. While the situation will continue to vary at every airport, one leader of a federal union for TSA officers told the New York Times that he expects a "drastic change" in the number of TSA officers showing up for work after their pay officially stops on Friday."
"It hasn't helped matters that the worker shortage is coinciding with peak spring break travel, during which a record-breaking 171 million passengers are expected to fly. Some airports like AUS are expecting their busiest times in terms of passenger volume to hit at the end of March and early April."
As a partial government shutdown approaches one month, select US airports experience severe TSA security delays. Houston Hobby, New Orleans, and Austin-Bergstrom airports reported lines exceeding 2-3.5 hours on specific dates, with queues extending into parking lots. Most airports maintain average wait times currently, but conditions are deteriorating. TSA staff absences have doubled since DHS funding ended February 14, with over 300 officers quitting. A TSA union leader predicts drastic staffing changes after workers miss their first full paycheck Friday. The crisis coincides with record spring break travel, with 171 million passengers expected to fly. While some major hubs like Seattle-Tacoma and Los Angeles maintain normal operations, the situation varies significantly by airport.
#government-shutdown #tsa-security-lines #airport-operations #spring-break-travel #federal-worker-staffing
Read at Conde Nast Traveler
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