MENU
  • Loading ...
  • Loading ...

Accommodation Bookings

Latest News Accommodation Bookings

Are you looking for a holiday? Get special deals.

 

TSA officers skip work as paychecks stop during shutdown, airports face chaos nationwide

17 Mar 2026 By foxnews

TSA officers skip work as paychecks stop during shutdown, airports face chaos nationwide

As the partial government shutdown continues to drag on, Transportation Security Administration officers are not getting their paychecks due to the lapse in funding at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Over the weekend, airports across the country faced long security delays, with TSA officers calling out of work.

There was a national callout rate of 10.19% on Sunday, a TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital - that's the highest rate the agency has seen.

AIRPORT SECURITY STRAIN DURING SHUTDOWN GROWS AS UNPAID TSA OFFICERS WARN, 'WE'RE HURTING'

Videos circulating of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas show passengers standing in long lines outside. 

The airport itself posted video on its X account on Saturday showing travelers lined up at 4:30 a.m.

"We're expecting a record-breaking volume of people - there are about 38K of you flying out today," the caption said. 

"Please arrive at least 2.5 hours prior to your flight's departure for domestic."

Passengers were waiting for 80 minutes on Sunday and just over an hour on Saturday.

The highest peak wait times seen in Austin were on March 13 at 90 minutes.

On Sunday, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City faced wait times of nearly three hours, with callout rates of 25.84%, a TSA spokesperson told Fox News.

Not far away, John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) had a 28.2% callout rate, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey had a 13.83% callout rate.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Callouts during the shutdown through Sunday averaged 10.24% at EWR, 21.40% at JFK and 12.68% at LGA.

Over 300 airport security officers have left TSA since the start of the DHS shutdown, with unscheduled absences, a TSA official confirmed to Fox News Digital.

American travel website The Points Guy posted a video of Austin airport lines and captioned the post: "It's the TSA Hunger Games at many airports across the country."

The post continued, "Never settle for a long line," adding a few tips it felt travelers should know.

"There are multiple entry points and sometimes CLEAR or PreCheck can be long. I got through Touchless TSA PreCheck in 2 minutes," the group suggested. "You can opt in to Touchless ID ASAP in your airline loyalty app."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

The Points Guy's account also suggested passengers ask an employee in a red vest to point out the shortest line. 

"Explain if you're TSA Pre/CLEAR/Touchless. They are helpful, especially if you have kids, and they have lines for those with children or accommodations," the post continued.

Finally, passengers were advised to "be nice! Everyone is stressed, and TSA agents have missed a paycheck. Even if you have to wait, don't take it out on frontline officers."

Fox News Digital reached out to The Points Guy for further comment.

Deondre White, a TSA officer at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C., told Fox News Digital last week that officers are "financially trying to do the best that they can."

White said that thanks to the financial support of his own family, he's been able "to show up" for his job. 

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"I'm thankful for my family to be able to come to work and be able to provide gas [to travel to work] because the gas prices have been rising," he said. "However, there are a lot of officers here who do not have those resources or family commitments from others [to help them out]."

He added, "When we're here, we will do our best as always. We have a crucial mission. We do take that very seriously."

More News

Booking.com
Amazon Health AI brings a doctor to your pocket
Amazon Health AI brings a doctor to your pocket
Hotel buffet crashers caught on camera loading up plates, walking out without paying
Hotel buffet crashers caught on camera loading up plates, walking out without paying
William Shatner turns 95 and gives blunt life advice that keeps him 'smokin'!'
William Shatner turns 95 and gives blunt life advice that keeps him 'smokin'!'
Man pulls off extreme 8-hour trip to another country, flies home same day
Man pulls off extreme 8-hour trip to another country, flies home same day
Analysts say Gaza 'civilian' deaths include Hamas, other terror members working as medics, media workers
Analysts say Gaza 'civilian' deaths include Hamas, other terror members working as medics, media workers
YouTube job scam text: How to spot it fast
YouTube job scam text: How to spot it fast
Brooks Koepka runs to comfort young girl hit by golf cart during his Valspar Championship
Brooks Koepka runs to comfort young girl hit by golf cart during his Valspar Championship
NHL writer, 3 children die in Minnesota house fire, officials say
NHL writer, 3 children die in Minnesota house fire, officials say
Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg slams notion of overseas Super Bowl: 'Convention of Americana'
Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg slams notion of overseas Super Bowl: 'Convention of Americana'
Waltz says Trump is using Iran's own oil strategy against itself to drive down global prices
Waltz says Trump is using Iran's own oil strategy against itself to drive down global prices
Influencers in Dubai claim it's 'safer here' than US, despite Iran attacks
Influencers in Dubai claim it's 'safer here' than US, despite Iran attacks
Giants running back Cam Skattebo's mother slams critics after player's remarks on CTE, asthma
Giants running back Cam Skattebo's mother slams critics after player's remarks on CTE, asthma
Brooks Nader says she 'forever' regrets one cosmetic procedure: 'I just didn't need it'
Brooks Nader says she 'forever' regrets one cosmetic procedure: 'I just didn't need it'
Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz hospitalized after puck hits throat in freak warmup incident
Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz hospitalized after puck hits throat in freak warmup incident
Carlos Fernández de Cossio: Cuba 'preparing' for 'possibility of military aggression'
Carlos Fernández de Cossio: Cuba 'preparing' for 'possibility of military aggression'
Lakers' Luka Doncic says Magic player made explicit remark about his family
Lakers' Luka Doncic says Magic player made explicit remark about his family
Iran chokes Strait of Hormuz with reported $2M tanker toll, regime threatens global oil supply
Iran chokes Strait of Hormuz with reported $2M tanker toll, regime threatens global oil supply
Cuban official reveals military 'preparing' for conflict after Trump considers 'taking' island
Cuban official reveals military 'preparing' for conflict after Trump considers 'taking' island
UK nuclear submarine deployed to Arabian Sea before Iran targets key US-UK base: reports
UK nuclear submarine deployed to Arabian Sea before Iran targets key US-UK base: reports
Chili's roasts Ruth's Chris after dress code controversy ignites online outrage
Chili's roasts Ruth's Chris after dress code controversy ignites online outrage
Latest News

copyright © 2026 Accommodation Bookings.   All rights reserved.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z