Overview
- Unscheduled absences dipped slightly to 9.9% Tuesday, with DHS reporting about 30% no-shows at JFK, Pittsburgh, and Houston Bush and 40% at Houston Hobby.
- Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl said smaller airports may have to close if callouts rise further, noting the agency is fully stretched.
- DHS says 366 officers have left since the lapse, with localized spikes above 50% in Houston and over 30% in New Orleans and Atlanta, producing multi‑hour waits.
- Some airports have consolidated or closed security checkpoints, including temporary closures in multiple Philadelphia terminals, as lines in some cities exceed three hours.
- Roughly 50,000 officers are working without pay after missing their first full paycheck last week, unions report mounting financial hardship, and airline CEOs are urging Congress to restore funding or ensure pay protections.