Shutdown Chaos Grounds Travelers as TSA Walkouts Surge

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…

Andrew PowellMar 16, 20262 min read

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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.