TSA workers miss a full paycheck, while travelers keep paying airport security fees - NPR

NPR
March 13, 2026
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3 min read

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TSA workers miss paychecks while airport travelers continue paying security fees.

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TSA workers missed their first full paycheck during the ongoing government shutdown while travelers continue paying the $5.60 security fee on airline tickets. The Transportation Security Administration employs approximately 51,000 airport security screeners who are considered essential workers and must continue working without pay during the funding lapse. Despite not receiving paychecks, TSA workers are required to maintain airport security operations while passengers still pay mandatory security fees that fund their salaries. The missed paycheck affects thousands of federal employees responsible for screening millions of travelers daily at airports nationwide. Workers face financial hardship while being required to report to work to keep airports operational during the shutdown.

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