While recent headlines highlight Iran-related travel advisories for American travelers, a more immediate crisis is unfolding at home. US airports are facing widespread disruption due to a partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — the agency responsible for airport security screenings.
With funding halted, many TSA officers have missed work or resigned, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel are being brought in to assist. Smaller airports, operating with limited staff, may even face temporary closures.
Since mid-February, the strain has intensified. Tens of thousands of TSA officers have either continued working without pay, stayed home, or resigned altogether. Nationwide absenteeism has averaged around 10 per cent, with spikes reaching up to 40 per cent at major airports. More than 360 officers have quit, and nearly 50,000 remain unpaid. This has led to long security lines lasting hours, checkpoint shutdowns, missed flights, and widespread delays — all worsened by the surge in spring break travel.
Several major airports are already seeing severe impacts. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has reported absentee rates as high as 38 per cent, with wait times exceeding two hours. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston has experienced lines stretching outside terminals, alongside TSA absenteeism nearing 40 per cent. At William P. Hobby Airport, also in Houston, passengers have faced waits of more than three hours. In New York, JFK Airport has dealt with staffing shortages of up to 20 per cent, while Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has reported wait times exceeding two hours. Similar disruptions have been observed at Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, and airports across Puerto Rico.
2-3 hour wait times for TSA security lines currently at IAH airport in Houston Texas. #TSA pic.twitter.com/f2yAb3VTNl
— Sam Dienst (@samdienst) March 19, 2026
🚨HOLY SMOKES!!!
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) March 23, 2026
The TSA lines in Houston TX have now stretched to a mind-blowing 3 HOURS LONG!!!!!
People are literally waiting in lines WRAPPED AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT!!!!
THIS IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/NOgPagsnVl
🚨🇺🇸 New Orleans airport.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2026
The line starts before the airport does. Everyone expects to miss their flight.
Houston was 3 hours outside. ICE got deployed this morning.
The American airport is having a week.pic.twitter.com/DPwYzVV1IT https://t.co/FXww3Bjah3
Federal law mandates TSA screening for all commercial flights. Without adequate staffing, smaller airports — which rely on minimal personnel — could be forced to shut down operations entirely. Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl has cautioned that such closures are no longer a distant possibility if absenteeism continues to rise, particularly after another missed pay cycle. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the current situation is only the beginning, describing it as “child’s play” compared to what could follow: nationwide waits of three to four hours, widespread delays and cancellations, and near gridlock across the US aviation system.
In an effort to ease congestion, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has started deploying officers to major airports. While their presence is intended to support TSA operations, ICE personnel are not a substitute for trained screeners. They are not qualified to operate X-ray machines, inspect baggage, or conduct full security screenings. Instead, their responsibilities include monitoring exits, verifying identification before screening areas, managing passenger queues, and helping control crowd movement — allowing TSA staff to concentrate on core screening duties.
Airports confirmed or reported to have ICE personnel on the ground include Atlanta, JFK and other New York-area airports, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, and Philadelphia. In total, ICE deployment could extend to around 14 major airports, involving hundreds of officers.
