WATCH: Airports experience delays as TSA workers go another week without pay

ABC News
March 21, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

TSA workers entering sixth week without pay during government shutdown, causing significant airport security delays nationwide.

How This Affects You

If you fly, expect longer security lines and delayed departures as unpaid TSA staff operate at reduced efficiency. Processing times have lengthened considerably at multiple airports.

AI Summary

TSA workers are entering their sixth week without paychecks as the partial government shutdown persists, forcing airport security checkpoints to operate with unpaid staff and creating significant delays for air travelers. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has left thousands of federal employees working without compensation while Congress and the White House remain deadlocked on budget negotiations. Passenger processing times have lengthened considerably, with some airports reporting backed-up security lines as staffing pressures mount. The extended shutdown threatens to further strain airport operations and could accelerate calls for a resolution, as both traveler frustration and worker hardship intensify. Federal employees typically continue working during shutdowns with the promise of back pay, but the prolonged nature of this closure has raised concerns about worker retention and service reliability.

What's Being Done

No specific congressional action or resolution deadline mentioned; shutdown negotiations remain deadlocked between Congress and White House.

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