Mar 26, 2026
At major airports across the United States, security lines are stretching for hours. But behind the delays is a deeper crisis — one that starts with paychecks as small as $1.
The crisis is the result of repeated government shutdowns. As CNN (1) reports, 61,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been hit by three federal funding shutdowns since October 2025, when they went without pay for 43 days, only to be hit by another brief shutdown in January.
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The latest Department of Homeland Security funding lapse began in February. As Business Insider reports, TSA officers said they received near-zero paychecks (2) in March — in some cases, just $1 after deductions.
Aaron Barker, whose union AFGE Local 554 represents TSA officers, told CNN that many of them have accumulated massive debt as a result — and are dealing with “eviction notices, vehicle repossessions, overdrawn bank accounts and empty refrigerators.”
“I’ve heard from officers who cannot afford co-payments for cancer treatments,” Barker told Atlanta News First (3).
In fact, many of them can’t afford to work at their jobs.
“This is becoming unsustainable,” Barker said. “Requiring employees to work without pay is unconstitutional, and the financial consequences of this shutdown damaged credit, missed payments, and lost housing will remain ever after the government reopens.”
More than 1,100 TSA officers resigned during the first shutdown last fall. Another 366 have handed in their notices amid the latest shutdown. Many of those who remain on the job are calling off for the day.
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Unscheduled absences (4) among TSA officers have reportedly tripled from a typical 2% rate to about 6% nationwide — with spikes as high as 50% at some airports, including Houston Hobby.
Airports turn to donations
The strain has become so visible that airports themselves are stepping in.
In Denver, airport officials issued a public call for donations, asking travellers and community members to provide $10 and $20 grocery and gas gift cards to TSA workers.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has opened a food pantry (5). They are collecting non-perishable food, hygiene products and diapers for federal employees working without pay.
Airport tenants are also pitching in, offering meals and discounts to workers during their shifts.
These measures underscore how unusual the situation has become: frontline security staff at some of the world’s busiest transportation hubs are relying on food banks and gift cards to get by.
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What it means for air travel in the long term
Spring break travel is now colliding with reduced staffing, foreshadowing what could worsen without intervention.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International have warned passengers to arrive 2 to 3 hours early (2) due to longer screening times.
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In some cases, wait times have stretched to three hours during peak travel days.
There is precedent for how this could unfold.
During the 2018–2019 government shutdown, airport disruptions intensified as TSA absenteeism climbed.
Analysts and industry groups point to roughly 10% absentee rates (4) at key airports as the tipping point that forced political action.
Today’s numbers are moving in that direction — and in some locations, already exceeding it.
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CEOs from major airlines (6) and logistics companies, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, FedEx and UPS, have called the situation “simply unacceptable” and urged Congress to act.
Two legislative proposals — the Aviation Funding Solvency Act (7) and the Keep America Flying Act (8) — aim to stabilize funding and ensure aviation workers get paid during shutdowns.
What travelers can expect in the short term
Until a resolution is achieved, longer wait times are likely to persist, particularly at major hubs and during peak travel periods.
At the moment, the nation’s airport security system is still functioning.
But it is doing so on the backs of workers who are choosing between showing up to work and paying for necessities — or even critical medical care.
“TSA officers are proud to serve and want to work, but they cannot continue to do so without pay,” a union leader said to Atlanta News First (3). “We demand immediate action to ensure these employees are compensated and treated with the dignity they deserve.”
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CNN (1); Business Insider (2); Atlanta News First (3); Yahoo News (4); Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (5); The White House (6); U.S. Congress (7); U.S. Congress (8)
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Monique Danao is a highly experienced journalist, editor and copywriter with 8 years of expertise in finance and technology. Her work has been featured in leading publications such as Forbes, Decential, 99Designs, Fast Capital 360, Social Media Today and the South China Morning Post.
