Overview
- Houston’s William P. Hobby reported waits topping three hours on Sunday and Monday, with lines spilling into baggage claim and parking areas, while New Orleans warned of queues reaching into its garage and urged early arrivals.
- TSA officers received only partial pay earlier in the lapse and are set to miss their first full paycheck this week, a pressure point officials and unions say is fueling unscheduled absences and reduced screening capacity.
- Airports advised travelers to arrive 3–5 hours before departure; some PreCheck lanes were temporarily closed or limited, and Global Entry remains suspended during the shutdown.
- Airlines and airport groups called for a swift funding deal as spring break volumes rise, with Airlines for America projecting 171 million passengers from March 1 to April 30.
- DHS officials blamed Democrats for the funding lapse while House Homeland Democrats said Republicans blocked a clean TSA bill; wait times varied by shift with some easing Monday afternoon, and Southwest offered earlier bag check and no‑fee changes at Hobby.