Airport bottlenecks ease as TSA workers get paid, but shutdown continues - AP News

The TSA is promising back pay to security officers, a move that appears to be easing congestion at major airport checkpoints. The agency had faced staffing shortages and extended wait times at high-traffic terminals, issues that frustrated travelers and raised concerns about security screening capacity. The wage commitment is designed to retain and stabilize the workforce responsible for processing millions of passengers daily. Better staffing levels at security checkpoints directly reduce the bottlenecks that have plagued busy airports in recent months. The development suggests the government is addressing operational strain through direct compensation to frontline employees.