Overview
- Most TSA employees received retroactive pay Monday, with DHS saying two full pay periods were paid and remaining partial pay is still processing through the federal payroll system.
- Security bottlenecks started to ease at several hubs after the payments, with Houston’s waits dropping from about 75 minutes before dawn to under 10 minutes and Atlanta near 3 minutes, though New York–area airports still reported longer lines.
- Callouts and attrition continue to strain checkpoints after 45 days without funding, with DHS reporting about 500 resignations and weekend callout rates topping 10% nationally and near 30% to 40% at some airports.
- ICE officers are staying on to support TSA, with officials saying they are handling ID checks, guarding exits, and managing crowds so trained screeners can staff X‑ray lanes.
- The funding fight remains unresolved after the Senate advanced a plan to fund DHS without ICE and CBP and the House rejected it and left town, which union leaders warn could slow a full recovery even as back pay reaches workers.