Overview
- Major airports including Houston Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental, New Orleans Louis Armstrong, Atlanta, Charlotte and Los Angeles reported waits of up to roughly three hours, with some lines stretching outside terminals.
- TSA employees received only a partial paycheck on Feb. 28 and are projected to miss a full paycheck on March 14, contributing to absences and staffing shortages at checkpoints, according to DHS.
- Airports urged travelers to arrive early, with some advising three to five hours before departure, as spring break volumes intensify pressure on security lanes.
- Congress has not reached a funding deal after a failed Senate vote last week, with DHS publicly blaming Democrats and Democratic leaders tying funding to immigration-enforcement reforms such as body cameras and identification requirements.
- DHS leadership is set to change March 31 after President Trump removed Secretary Kristi Noem and nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the department.