Airport wait times now at record-highs, TSA says: ‘A dire situation’
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
TSA reports record-high airport security wait times and warns shutdown may force temporary airport closures.
How This Affects You
Travelers face extended security delays at major airports and risk missing flights; some airports may temporarily close if funding shutdown intensifies.
AI Summary
The TSA warned Wednesday that airport security wait times have reached record levels, with the agency cautioning it may need to temporarily shut down some airports if staffing pressures from the partial government shutdown intensify. The shutdown has left many TSA officers working without pay, straining the agency's ability to maintain normal screening operations across the country's busiest travel corridors. The closure of even individual airports would cause cascading disruptions to the national aviation system and strand thousands of travelers. The warning underscores the cascading effects of the shutdown on essential infrastructure and public services that continue operating despite the lapse in federal funding. TSA officials have previously warned that prolonged shutdowns without pay can lead to higher call-in rates among screeners, directly reducing capacity at security checkpoints.
What's Being Done
TSA has warned Congress about staffing pressures and the agency's diminished capacity to maintain normal screening operations.
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Airports in some of the largest U.S. cities are reaching a breaking point as Congress shows signs of progress toward a deal to end the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. CBS News' Nicole Sganga and Taurean Small report.
Government TransparencyTSA boss warns of airport shutdowns, but no deal yet on day 40 of Homeland Security funding fight - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxNUDc4U0JqMzFxNTBwb1NEd3FReVk1Zk5abVdpQW5pTjZpUGZSM0Q1TkY1QnhyblFieFI1X0lQTlhuejhmRzFhRWVQODVUVk1pQm9ucTNsQ1NXTm1ZSk41ZGNPeGZJOEVDOW5fWnNLbUlIZHVOd1BqLTJOeUZDOTA3SjY4VjhyMWg0U2dWRk00SEsyWWYwZmZELW9lczJCZV9UZ08xdll6NA?oc=5" target="_blank">TSA boss warns of airport shutdowns, but no deal yet on day 40 of Homeland Security funding fight</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
Government TransparencyUS official warns small airports could soon shut down over TSA absences - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxNb2FCNzlvSWZ1RVZYd1Z3UVVlaHFrbXQ2VEYwRlJ1bTA0R2JpV0JqNVNzazNBVl9pYVAyU0tCWkdvdTQwRUtVMkpKaDZCeHpSNFBiQTRFbWF5OGRHU1VCYy1Jak9fVk5CcUNneE1PdDZUV1RqeXdhWVlNc1ZIX0xoOGoyWnExNkMycUtTUE1tZjZxdl82LUJXV1dHQ0J0d3lzWkhSM18yN0ktWkczVnpCVEVPOHZHTDg?oc=5" target="_blank">US official warns small airports could soon shut down over TSA absences</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
Government TransparencyTSA official: Airport security problem ‘going to get worse before it gets better’
A senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official warned Thursday that the growing backlog at airport security checkpoints nationwide is likely “going to get worse before it gets better” as staffing becomes more strained as a result of the lingering Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told NewsNation host Blake…
Government TransparencyLong lines, unpaid TSA workers: Experts say US air travel system in crisis
TSA workers face unpaid wages, causing long lines and staffing shortages at key US airports during shutdown chaos.
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