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TSA Pay Lapse Drives Unpredictable Airport Lines, With Warnings of Small-Airport Closures

About a month without pay is eroding TSA staffing during peak spring travel.

Overview

  • Homeland Security confirms at least 366 TSA resignations since the funding lapse began, underscoring mounting retention pressures.
  • Nationwide callouts are near 10%, with sharper local spikes reported this week such as roughly one-third absent in Atlanta and more than half at Houston Hobby.
  • Security wait times have become highly variable, with reports ranging from minutes to multiple hours and travel experts urging passengers to arrive earlier.
  • Most airports in New England report steady operations for now, though an aviation expert cautions conditions could deteriorate within about ten days if pay is not restored.
  • Some airports, including Boston Logan, are offering stopgap support such as free bus service and parking to help keep checkpoint staff on the job.