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53m ago

DHS Shutdown Pushes TSA to Work Unpaid as Travel Delay Risks Grow

Congress left Washington without a funding deal after a dispute over new limits on immigration enforcement.

A view of the sign in front of the Homeland Security Department in southeast Washington, D.C., on February 15, 2026.
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Overview

  • Homeland Security funding lapsed on Feb. 14, triggering a targeted shutdown that affects TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard while the rest of the government remains funded.
  • About 95% of TSA employees are designated essential and are screening passengers without pay, heightening concerns about retention and hardship.
  • Travel and airline groups warn that unpaid staffing increases the risk of unscheduled absences, longer security lines and missed or delayed flights as spring break approaches.
  • ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection largely continue operations using multi‑year funds approved in prior legislation.
  • Air traffic controllers are funded through the Transportation Department, limiting ATC-related disruptions, and Congress is in recess with no immediate resolution expected though members could be called back.