TSA wait times are unpredictable amid government shutdown : NPR
NPR • • business
Key Points:
- U.S. travelers face long airport security lines during spring break due to TSA staff working without pay amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, with wait times reaching up to two hours or more at major airports like Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans.
- The shutdown, resulting from Congressional Democrats withholding DHS funding over immigration enforcement reforms, has led to significant TSA staffing shortages, with many agents calling out sick or quitting, exacerbating delays during a peak travel period.
- President Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports to manage security if DHS funding is not restored immediately, while bipartisan talks continue to resolve the funding impasse.
- Despite disruptions from staffing shortages, severe weather, and rising fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict, travel demand remains high, with
