HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 8: Airline passengers wait in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Sunday, March 8, 2026. The line stretched from the security checkpoint into the lower level baggage claim area to the lower level parking garage.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Some US airports this week warned travelers about long TSA lines, though the disruption has eased.
The delays come as TSA agents, facing a missed paycheck amid the partial government shutdown, are not coming to work.
Houston Hobby, San Juan, and New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport all warned of delays.
As TSA agents are expected to miss their first full paycheck on Saturday because of the partial shutdown, which started in February, some are not coming in to work.
On Sunday and Monday, the staffing shortages resulted in long lines in some airports. The disruption, which eased on Tuesday and appeared largely over by Wednesday, came as air travel hits the busy spring break period.
In X posts on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, described the situation as "spring break under siege" and shared photos of throngs of people waiting in an airport.
SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE.
The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights.
There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points — Democrats… pic.twitter.com/sp1vnzXJbb
The chaos was largely localized to a handful of airports — but travelers could see lines across the US worsen if the partial shutdown continues and security officers continue to work without pay.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired in mid-February after Democratic lawmakers demanded changes to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
TSA agents also worked without pay during the record government shutdown in October and November, and received their back pay once the government reopened.
The airport warned that delays could continue through the week, though the government's MyTSA app shows wait times were roughly 15 minutes as of Wednesday morning.
However, the app uses historical averages and is not being monitored during the shutdown, so the displayed times may be longer.
While wait times have improved today, the situation remains fluid. Please arrive 2 hours before your scheduled departure. pic.twitter.com/Oxf7Z5ujeo
— New Orleans Airport (@flyneworleans) March 9, 2026
Houston Hobby Airport
Travelers flying through Houston Hobby Airport were told by the airport on Monday to arrive three to four hours before their flight.
"Spring Break travel is still underway, so expect a busy airport," the airport wrote, noting that TSA opens as early as 3 a.m. The airport's guidance has remained mostly unchanged since Sunday.
In a Monday X post, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said it was experiencing extended wait times at TSA checkpoints. It did not specify how long the lines are, but advised travelers to arrive early.
Atlanta attributed Sunday's disruptions to staffing and "residual impacts from two ground stops issued Friday."
Lines reached about an hour. As of early Wednesday, the TSA wait time on the airport's website was listed as a maximum of 11 minutes.
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston's larger airport, George Bush Intercontinental, said in a Monday X post that fewer TSA lanes may lead to longer wait times.
The airport was reporting a longest wait time of 26 minutes on its website on Wednesday morning.
As a result of the federal government shutdown, fewer TSA lanes may be open.
Arrive early and allow for extra time for security.
The main airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said on X Monday that some passengers have been experiencing "longer-than-usual" security lines due to TSA shortages and recommended that travelers arrive at the airport three to four hours early.
"We appreciate your patience as we continue to collaborate with our federal partners to maintain passenger flow in the terminal," it said.
In its most recent update, posted at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the airport said wait times were roughly 5 minutes.
The MyTSA mobile app is showing wait times up to 30 minutes on Wednesday morning.
Nuestro director de operaciones, Nelman Nevárez, ofrece una actualización sobre los tiempos de espera en los puntos de inspección de seguridad en el Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU).
"Due to the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing levels may affect security wait times at CLT in the coming days," the airport said in a Tuesday X post, encouraging travelers to budget extra time.
The airport's website showed wait times of around 10 minutes on Wednesday morning.
Due to the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing levels may affect security wait times at CLT in the coming days. Travelers are encouraged to arrive early and allow additional time to pass through security screening.
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