TSA wait times up to 6 hours as ICE, other agents deployed to 14 airports
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The Bottom Line
TSA wait times hit 6 hours at 14 airports as officer absences reach 12%, forcing agency to deploy ICE agents to checkpoints.
How This Affects You
If you're flying through affected airports, expect six-hour security delays. This could cause you to miss flights and has already disrupted thousands of travelers during peak travel periods.
AI Summary
TSA wait times at 14 airports stretched to six hours on Sunday as immigration and customs enforcement agents filled gaps left by a sharp increase in officer absences. Nearly 12% of scheduled TSA officers called out—the highest rate since the partial government shutdown began—creating the bottleneck at security checkpoints. The deployment of ICE and other federal agents reflects the transportation security agency's effort to maintain operations during a period of elevated staffing strain. The extended delays affect thousands of travelers during what is typically a busy travel period. The pattern underscores the strain the shutdown has placed on the TSA workforce and raises questions about how long airports can sustain these service disruptions.
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