The partial DHS funding lapse that began on Feb. 13 has left TSA checkpoints understaffed, producing multi‑hour waits at major U.S. airports. William P. Hobby Airport is advising travelers to arrive four to five hours early, while New Orleans’ airport recommends three hours. TSA staff received a partial paycheck on Feb. 28 and may miss a full paycheck on March 14; the White House says this is the third such pay disruption in roughly six months. Leadership changes at DHS and earlier warnings from Houston airports add to the operational strain.
Major U.S. Airports Face Hours‑Long TSA Delays as Partial DHS Shutdown Reduces Staffing
Major U.S. Airports Experiencing Hours-Long Delays Due to TSA Staffing Shortages amid Partial Government Shutdown
Major airports across the United States are reporting multi‑hour delays at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints after staffing shortages tied to a partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse. Travelers are being urged to allow substantially more time for screening as agencies work through pay and personnel disruptions.
What Travelers Are Being Told
William P. Hobby Airport in Houston posted on X (formerly Twitter) that passengers should arrive four to five hours before departure to "allow extra time for TSA screening," warning that wait times could exceed three hours. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, La., likewise cited a "shortage of TSA workers at the security checkpoint" and advised arriving at least three hours before scheduled departures.
Passengers wait in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston on March 9, 2026.Credit: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty
Pay, Staffing And Operational Strain
The partial DHS shutdown began on Feb. 13 after Congress did not approve funding for the agency, leaving DHS as the only federal department without funding for the rest of Fiscal Year 2026 (through Sept. 30), according to CNN. TSA employees received a partial paycheck on Feb. 28 and are expected to miss their first full paycheck on March 14. The White House said on March 9 that this is the third time in roughly six months that TSA personnel have gone unpaid.
“There is zero reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points,” DHS said in a post on X on March 8, blaming partisan gridlock for the funding lapse and the resulting travel disruptions.
Leadership Changes And Broader Impact
The department’s operational challenges are compounded by leadership changes: President Donald Trump removed Kristi Noem as head of the agency and named Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her, effective March 31. Lawmakers had briefly provided two weeks of temporary funding earlier to allow additional negotiation after Democrats pushed for reforms to immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal agents.
The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security.Credit: Kevin Carter/Getty
Past And Related Disruptions
Houston airports had warned of lengthy TSA lines in November as the shutdown unfolded; at that time a traveler departing George Bush Intercontinental Airport reported waiting more than four hours to reach the security checkpoint. Separately, nearly 11,000 air traffic controllers nationwide reportedly worked without pay during the shutdown, highlighting broader strain across the aviation system.
Practical Advice: If you must travel, check your airport’s official social channels before leaving for the airport, arrive much earlier than usual, and prepare for longer security lines. Airlines and airports may adjust boarding and check‑in windows in response to evolving conditions.
Help us improve.
