Overview
- Atlanta reported roughly 120-minute waits and Houston about 90 minutes with a checkpoint closed, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned delays could worsen next week with possible small-airport shutdowns if another paycheck is missed.
- DHS said more than 10% of TSA staff were absent nationwide midweek, with over one-third no-shows reported at some major hubs including Atlanta, Houston and Philadelphia.
- At least 366 TSA officers have resigned since the latest funding lapse, and airports such as Denver, Seattle-Tacoma and Las Vegas are soliciting donations for unpaid workers facing mounting financial strain.
- TSA PreCheck has become unreliable at some locations with expedited lanes closed in places like Philadelphia and Newark, and official MyTSA wait-time updates may be less dependable during the shutdown.
- Airlines are generally not required to refund travelers who miss flights because of security delays, though some carriers rebook or offer credits, while about 20 airports using private screeners report normal lines because contractors are covering payroll.