Airport wait times won't return to normal until Congress reaches a deal to pay TSA. Here's why they still can't come to an agreement. - Yahoo
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
TSA lacks funding to fully staff airport checkpoints, extending security wait times above pre-pandemic levels.
How This Affects You
Airport security lines remain extended due to understaffing, directly increasing wait times for travelers at major hubs.
AI Summary
Airport security lines remain extended because Congress has not appropriated funding for the Transportation Security Administration, leaving the agency unable to fully staff checkpoints. The TSA operates under continuing resolutions rather than a permanent budget, a common occurrence during congressional impasses over spending bills. Without a deal, the agency cannot hire and deploy additional officers needed to process travelers efficiently, directly affecting passengers at major hubs. Congress remains divided on broader spending priorities, and disagreement over TSA funding levels has become entangled in larger budget negotiations. Until lawmakers pass appropriations legislation that includes TSA funding, airports will continue operating with staffing constraints that extend wait times above pre-pandemic baselines.
What's Being Done
Congress must pass appropriations legislation that includes TSA funding to resolve the issue.
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Closing some US airports due to TSA staffing would have big consequences, experts say - AP News
What perks? Lawmakers play down special treatment as airport lines grow - Politico
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