This is the last day for Congress to pass legislation funding the Transportation Security Administration before its previously scheduled recess. As of March 26, six such measures have already failed in the Senate, and it looks like lawmakers will have to work on at least part of their spring recess.
Spring break has already caused chaos at airports across the country, with “the highest wait times in TSA history, with some wait times exceeding 4.5 hours,” according to Ha Nguyen McNeil, the agency’s acting head.
Testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security on March 25, McNeil said that more than 480 TSA officers have walked off the job since the partial government shutdown began in February – the third this fiscal year – and “many major airports are experiencing days where 40-50% of their employees are calling out because they can’t afford to come to work.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been brought into airports across the country this week to reduce wait times, although long lines remain in many cases.
How early should I get to the airport? How to View TSA Wait Time
Travelers are typically advised to arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights, but many are being advised to reach the airport even earlier amid the shutdown.
The TSA is not updating wait times on its MyTSA mobile app during the government shutdown, but some airports are posting wait times on their respective websites and social media.
Airports such as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport post expected wait times on their websites. Nevertheless, a large percentage of airports do not provide this service and instead advise passengers to arrive a few hours before their expected departure time.
Independent websites including Airport Insight and TSA Wait Times provide real-time information on security wait times at airports.
Can I change an already booked flight?
Depending on the airline and fare class, passengers may be able to rebook upcoming flights to avoid the current situation at airports.
Delta Air Lines is giving travelers flying from Atlanta additional flexibility with the discount through March 30. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest in the world by passenger numbers and is Delta’s main hub. It has also been one of the hardest hit in terms of TSA wait times during the partial government shutdown.
For Delta passengers whose journey begins in Atlanta (not those just connecting through a hub), the waiver gives some additional rebooking options.
If you’re flying Delta through March 30, you can rebook your ticket and travel in the same fare class through April 6 without paying a fare difference or change fee. If you rebook but choose to travel after April 6, differential fares may apply.
Which airports have ICE?
CNN and The Washington Post reported that ICE agents were dispatched to the following 14 airports:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport near San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Southwest Florida International Airport near Fort Myers (RSW)
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston
ICE officers have also been notified at the following airports:
- Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia
The Washington Post cited Keith Jefferies, former TSA director of Los Angeles International Airport, as reporting that additional airports could be added, especially if there are a large number of call-outs.
Lauren Biss, DHS’s acting assistant secretary for public affairs, told USA TODAY that the agency would not confirm the locations of ICE agents, citing “operational security reasons.”
Why is ICE at airports and what are officers doing there?
President Donald Trump sent ICE agents to airports to help ease the TSA staffing shortage caused by the more than month-long partial government shutdown, during which TSA officers were not paid.
On March 22, White House border czar Tom Homan, who was tasked with the operation, told CNN’s “State of the Union”: “I haven’t seen any ICE agents looking at the
The BIS of Homeland Security confirmed to USA TODAY that “After receiving the standard TSA training curriculum, ICE officers are guarding entry and exit, assisting with logistics, conducting crowd control, and verifying identities using TSA equipment and standard operating procedures.”
Why pay ICE but not TSA?
ICE agents continue to receive their regular pay because they are classified as funded, essential personnel within the Department of Homeland Security. TSA officers are also considered essential and must work during the shutdown, but they are not being paid because their funding is tied to an appropriations process stalled in Congress.
The difference is in the funding structure. ICE has access to a much larger, long-term funding stream, while TSA depends more directly on annual appropriations that have lapsed. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gives DHS more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement through 2029, including nearly $75 billion for ICE.
Meanwhile, McNeil said TSA employees are now left with nearly $1 billion in unpaid wages.
“Many people in our workforce have missed bills, received eviction notices, had their cars repossessed and utilities shut off, lost their child care, defaulted on loans, had their credit lines damaged and had their retirement savings depleted,” he said. “Some people are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and working second jobs to make ends meet, while they are expected to perform at the highest level in uniform to protect the traveling public.”
Contributing: Zach Visscher, Nathan Diller, Nicole Fallert, Michelle Del Rey, Ignacio Calderon and Lauren Villagran; USA Today
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flying this weekend? What to know before going to the airport?
Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect