The partial government shutdown has left TSA officers working without pay for 45 days, forcing some parents into financial crises that could jeopardize child custody. More than 500 TSA employees have resigned since mid-February, worsening staffing shortages and contributing to long airport waits. An executive action intends to deliver back pay to some TSA staff, but unions warn that resignations and recruitment headaches could cause lasting operational problems.
Unpaid TSA Workers Could Lose Child Custody as Shutdown Spurs 500+ Resignations
A TSA agent completes a security screening.Credit: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty
As the partial federal government shutdown reached its 45th day, thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees continued reporting for duty without pay — and some now face severe personal consequences for doing so.
Darrell English, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 777, which represents Chicago-area airports, told PEOPLE that the funding lapse has pushed many parents to the brink of losing housing and even child custody.
Local 777’s president Darrell English and executive vice president Christine VitelCredit: Courtesy of the American Federation of Government Employees (2)
"I was just contacted recently because [of an employee’s] inability to pay for mortgages or rent," English said. "Officers with children are now being jeopardized as far as them losing custody, because this would be their second missed mortgage or rent [payment]."
English and Local 777 executive vice president Christine Vitel described the toll on members who are struggling to afford groceries, childcare and medication while continuing to staff airport checkpoints.
"I’ve seen officers personally picking up extra jobs, leaning on family and still coming in with professionalism every day," Vitel said. "April 1 will be the second month that people can’t pay their mortgages. Our last paycheck was actually at the beginning of February."
According to CNN, more than 500 TSA employees have resigned since the shutdown began in mid-February. Airports nationwide have reported increased call-outs and staffing gaps, contributing to multi-hour waits at some checkpoints.
Security lines at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 22.Credit: Adam Gray/Getty
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive action aimed at directing "funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to allow back pay, and newly appointed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TSA staff "should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday." Some workers reported receiving overdue paychecks and said the funds would cover food, gas and prescription medication; others — including at least one Chicago-area employee — said they still had not received payments.
Union leaders warned that even if pay resumes for some employees, the damage may be long-lasting. "These officers that we’re losing are going to be very hard to replace," English said. "We’re going to be missing experienced individuals that have left the agency and there’s no one there to replace them that has that level of knowledge at the present time."
Recruitment and retention challenges, the unions say, could create ongoing staffing shortages and strain airport security and customer service for travelers.
Sources: PEOPLE, CNN; statements from AFGE Local 777 and DHS.
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