It remains to be seen if Trump's order to pay TSA officers shortens passenger wait times
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order to immediately pay TSA officers amid long security lines during the busy spring break travel period, though the impact on airport delays remains uncertain.
- TSA employees, unpaid since February 14 due to a government shutdown, could receive pay as soon as Monday, but staffing shortages and long wait times may persist for weeks without guaranteed extended pay.
- Major airports like Baltimore-Washington International reported unprecedented checkpoint wait times, with some passengers experiencing hours-long delays causing missed flights and travel disruptions.
- Additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel were deployed to assist TSA checkpoints at BWI to help speed passenger processing, though they are not involved in immigration enforcement.
- Travelers are advised to check airport updates frequently and arrive at least four hours before departure, as wait times can fluctuate rapidly and TSA staffing remains unpredictable during the shutdown.
