Long security lines form at airports as TSA agents miss first full paycheck amid DHS standoff

Long Security Lines at Airports as TSA Agents Miss First Full Paycheck Amid DHS Funding Standoff

Travelers faced extended wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, with security queues stretching through the domestic terminal and causing frustration among those eager to board their flights. The congestion emerged shortly after TSA agents missed their initial full salary, a result of the ongoing funding dispute with the Department of Homeland Security. At the Atlanta airport, parallel lines formed as passengers navigated through checkpoints, with digital displays indicating delays ranging from four minutes for TSA PreCheck users to over an hour for the general line.

Although the lines stretched for hours and travelers showed signs of fatigue, many remained composed. Hartsfield-Jackson, a key hub for Delta Air Lines and one of the nation’s busiest airports, saw some individuals take proactive measures, like arriving three hours early for their flights. Laronda Monteiro, a local resident, shared her experience with NBC News, stating that her early arrival paid off. “I know we have to be secure, and I just appreciate those who are still with TSA, remaining on the job,” she said. “I can wait for the safety and security.”

“I can wait for the safety and security.”

Meanwhile, Morgan Young, returning to Washington, expressed frustration over the disruptions. “It’s stressful, honestly,” she remarked, noting that her usual CLEAR program was unavailable on Sunday. “I feel like Atlanta airport runs as smooth as possible, but it is stressful for sure. And more stressful for the people who aren’t getting paid and are at work.”

“It’s stressful, honestly. And more stressful for the people who aren’t getting paid and are at work.”

Ezer Gill, waiting to pass through security, highlighted the broader impact of the government standoff. “Air travel is an essential part of how our country operates, and if we can’t get to where we need to go, it’s going to affect a lot of people,” he explained. “It’s affecting me and a lot of the other people, I’ve heard.”

“Air travel is an essential part of how our country operates, and if we can’t get to where we need to go, it’s going to affect a lot of people.”

Democratic lawmakers have stalled Republican proposals to fund DHS, raising concerns about how the agency manages immigration enforcement. With DHS funding expired on February 13, Democrats are pushing for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection before approving a new budget. TSA employees, deemed essential, have continued working without full pay, receiving a partial paycheck after the shutdown and missing their first full payment on Friday.

Similar delays were reported at airports in Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Austin, and Chicago. A TikTok video from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport showed a winding queue at 2 a.m., with the poster advising passengers to arrive hours early. Despite arriving four hours early, she still missed her 2:30 a.m. flight. Some online commenters noted that wait times eased later Sunday, aligning with updates from Austin’s airport, which described “very long” lines in the early hours but claimed they had subsided by midday.

At Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, a video captured a security line looping back on itself three times, with the user estimating a two-hour wait. TSA addressed the situation on social media, expressing urgency on X: “A $0 paycheck for those continuing to serve. Enough is enough. No more playing politics with the lives of Americans.” A DHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to NBC News’ inquiry on Sunday.

Anthony Riley, 58, who has been working at Syracuse Hancock International Airport during the shutdown, voiced worries about his financial stability. He told NBC News last week that the previous government shutdown left him without a car or savings, fearing homelessness if the situation persists. “The problem is that my credit rating was wrecked by the last government shutdown,” he said, underscoring the personal toll of the funding impasse.