Atlanta airport slammed with nearly 3-hour wait as security line wraps around baggage claim amid Dem shutdown: ‘PURE INSANITY!’ - New York Post

New York Post
March 22, 2026
4 views
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

TSA staffing shortages from a partial shutdown caused nearly three-hour security delays at Atlanta's busiest airport, forcing passengers to miss flights.

How This Affects You

Air travelers may experience security delays of up to three hours at major airports during the shutdown, risking missed flights and travel disruptions.

AI Summary

Travelers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport experienced security lines stretching nearly three hours Tuesday, with queues extending from checkpoints back to the baggage claim area. The extended delays occurred amid a partial government shutdown, which has reduced the number of available Transportation Security Administration officers working at the nation's busiest airport. Airport operations depend on federal funding for TSA staffing, and shutdown-related absences typically strain security screening capacity during peak travel periods. The backlog forced some passengers to miss flights and drew sharp criticism on social media, with travelers describing the situation as chaotic. A full reopening of government operations would restore normal TSA staffing levels and reduce such delays.

What's Being Done

A full reopening of government operations would restore normal TSA staffing levels and reduce such delays, though no timeline for this action is mentioned.

Source Coverage Map

20 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

47% coverage
Did Not Cover (23)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP Top News96ProPublica95Bellingcat95+18 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines - AP News
Government Transparency

Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOTmJFdURWaEh1Z1ZTdjJXM0pvNklybm5JS3pJNHBBdTdzUE9UQmJTSDR4U1h0czl2ZXlUSTVuVzlkWjZEV1o1T1V1TFF4Wkx5NHNwbVJiWWpCNUdrV3BPV2RKUDRpRUNzODFsVnBaVy1TTUk2cTBJQlhWY1dIeFhYS04wanpWWW5tTVhvREplY05qT21mUmtEand0N0tKSG8xclItMQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Bill to fund Homeland Security fails again as concern grows about airport lines</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 20
Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport
National Security

Alaska Airlines flight, FedEx cargo plane nearly collide at Newark airport

An Alaska Airlines 737 and a FedEx 777 cargo plane nearly collided as they attempted to land on intersecting runways at Newark Liberty International Airport.

ABC NewsMar 19
TSA says 460 airport officers quit as standoff poses major security risks - Reuters
National Security

TSA says 460 airport officers quit as standoff poses major security risks - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxNUUgwM3hNN0N0ZXNqNnhuU2N4SFBWRnJ5NUFrSWFESWJLNlVWSWpPVGNUal9WOXZwdGFPTmExRUE0c21OelRtMjhIUmY4NUx1YVZwTXg5anRWajd3ckJBSFB5bjA4WTZpa214WElDVm9aUFlSaV8xYl9rN2doajRwaS1HSmROc2ZqR3BFMGo1aC11OXBtZnR0S2Vua2FYdm90amJOMTZJN1JGNkdiVjVTMFdjc3RPLVYxTFlPbFl4Q0h4RFAz?oc=5" target="_blank">TSA says 460 airport officers quit as standoff poses major security risks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 24
TSA official: Airport security problem ‘going to get worse before it gets better’
Government Transparency

TSA 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…

The HillMar 19
How to monitor airport security lines at US airports while TSA officers go without pay - AP News
Government Transparency

How to monitor airport security lines at US airports while TSA officers go without pay - AP News

AP NewsMar 18
Deal emerges to end Homeland Security budget standoff as TSA disruptions deepen - AP News
Politics

Deal emerges to end Homeland Security budget standoff as TSA disruptions deepen - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxOdWIwRnpZOEpRbHhlTUtVeXpmb25rYmhDdTl1ME5uT1RSRVZObXNXSVhsN1YtOU9OTW9TeWFiV3hyMEJqVjhxRDltbHNaT1dSMFE2dFU0blJYb19BWFpwR3JaX3RXQUNvWGxsa2dlbkJnQWlJS3BCWHNsd3p5aHpzN2pNY2pYTlhJbmRpZmJ0OFJWRXFhUTdSU08zSHdRYnZUdnJHUldJV3I4SmdmV0dEUkd3?oc=5" target="_blank">Senators consider deal to fund Homeland Security but not ICE enforcement as airport lines snarl</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 24
Read Next
The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court
Politics

The Case That Could Upend Who Gets to Be an American Is Back at the Supreme Court

Next week, the Trump administration’s bid to deny birthright citizenship to the US-born children of undocumented immigrants and non-green card holders through an executive order will arrive at the Supreme Court—yet again. Last year, the justices didn’t address the constitutionality of the order directly; instead, they ruled on a procedural question to limit the power […]

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources