10 Things You Can Do While Waiting in the TSA Line
WIRED • • business
Key Points:
- The US Congress failed to reach a funding deal for over 40 days, causing many Department of Homeland Security employees, including TSA agents, to miss paychecks and leading to long security lines at airports nationwide.
- TSA agents have experienced increased callouts due to financial struggles, with nearly 12% absent on a recent Thursday compared to the usual 4%, impacting airport security operations.
- President Trump signed an executive order to direct DHS to pay TSA workers, but union representatives warn it may take over a week for agents to receive back pay, and Congress has yet to fully fund the department.
- Travelers are advised to arrive early and consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck for expedited security screening, though enrollment can take several days to weeks.
- WIRED suggests various ways to pass the time during long waits, including listening to podcasts, organizing photos, learning to solve a Rubik’s Cube, or exploring mobile games and virtual worlds.
