Travelers across the country are running into long lines and mounting frustration as airport security staffing takes a hit during the ongoing federal budget standoff.
Hundreds of TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began on Feb. 14, leaving already strained checkpoints struggling to keep up with demand, per the New York Post.
According to internal statistics cited by CBS News, more than 300 officers have walked off the job, while many others have taken unscheduled absences.
The impact has been felt nationwide.
At William P. Hobby Airport, more than half of TSA officers called out on March 8, with 53% absent, followed by 47% the next day.
Other major airports have also seen significant staffing shortages, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, where 21% of staff called in sick over the past month.
Similar trends have been reported at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a 19% absence rate and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which saw 14% of its workforce call out.
These numbers came even before TSA agents missed their first paycheck on Friday, worsening an already difficult situation.
In some cases, airports have advised passengers to arrive as much as five hours before departure to make it through security.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has launched messaging aimed at travelers, placing blame squarely on Democrats.
A video played at some airport checkpoints told passengers, “You may be experiencing longer-than-average wait times due to the ongoing Democrat shutdown of TSA and the Department of Homeland Security.”
“The TSA Officers you are interacting with have shown up to work despite having missed paychecks. Please take the opportunity to thank the dedicated men and women of the TSA when you fly today,” the message added.
Not all airports agreed to air the video. Facilities like LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport declined, citing concerns that the messaging was too political.
Still, DHS has continued its public push, writing on social media that the shutdown “has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights.”
The standoff has dragged on for nearly a month, with Senate Democrats refusing to approve funding without changes to immigration enforcement policies tied to ICE and Border Patrol.
