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TSA Shortages Trigger Hours-Long Lines as DHS Shutdown Hits Spring Break

Industry leaders warn the fourth week of a DHS funding lapse is pushing unpaid TSA staff to a breaking point.

Overview

  • Houston’s William P. Hobby and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong airports saw the worst backups, with lines spilling into parking areas and advisories to arrive 3–5 hours early.
  • TSA reported waits near three hours at Hobby on Sunday, while Atlanta, Charlotte, and Houston’s Bush Intercontinental posted longer‑than‑normal times that fluctuated through the day.
  • PreCheck generally remains available but has closed at times at affected checkpoints, and Global Entry remains suspended during the funding lapse.
  • TSA officers are working without regular pay and face their first full missed paycheck, a strain officials say is contributing to absences and staffing gaps.
  • Airlines for America and airport groups urged the White House and Congress to resolve the DHS funding standoff during a spring‑break period expected to see about 171 million passengers.