Crowds and long lines are building at U.S. airports as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers continue working without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown, raising the risk of broader travel disruptions ahead of a busy weekend. Transportation officials warned that delays could worsen quickly if staffing shortages deepen, potentially affecting airports nationwide, according to NBC News.
- TSA screening officers are working without pay during the shutdown, NBC News reported.
- Airport wait times and checkpoint lines have grown as the shutdown drags on, according to NBC News video reporting.
- Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao warned the situation could deteriorate further, telling NBC News that “travel chaos” could worsen if the shutdown continues.
- Officials cautioned that reduced staffing—driven in part by unpaid workers calling out—could create cascading delays across the air travel system, NBC News reported.
- The warning comes ahead of a heavy travel period, when even modest staffing gaps can translate into longer screening times and missed flights, according to NBC News.
The shutdown has left large segments of the federal workforce either furloughed or required to work as “excepted” employees without immediate pay. TSA officers fall into the latter category: they must report for duty to maintain aviation security, even when paychecks are delayed. NBC News reported that as the shutdown continues, more disruptions are emerging at airports as officers weigh commuting and household expenses against continued unpaid work.
Transportation officials’ concern is that airport security screening is a chokepoint: when checkpoints slow, passengers back up into terminals, flights can be delayed waiting for late-arriving travelers, and airlines can face gate and crew scheduling problems. NBC News reported that Chao and other officials warned the impact could spread beyond a handful of airports if staffing becomes inconsistent.
For federal employees and service members traveling during the shutdown, the immediate issue is time and contingency planning. Travelers should expect longer lines, arrive earlier than usual, and closely monitor airline alerts for gate changes and delays. Those traveling on official orders or TDY should follow agency travel guidance and document delays and added expenses consistent with their organization’s travel policy.
For TSA employees and other “excepted” personnel, missed paychecks can create short-term cash-flow problems even if back pay is later approved. Workers should track leave-and-earnings information, maintain records of hours worked, and consult agency HR guidance on shutdown procedures. For broader shutdown impacts on federal pay and benefits, see FedBrief’s shutdown policy explainer: https://fedbrief.org/
Source: NBC News (Politics), “Transportation secretary warns airport travel chaos to worsen” (video), accessed via TODAY.com: https://www.today.com/video/transportation-secretary-warns-airport-travel-chaos-to-worsen-259643973900