After weeks of chaos in U.S. airports, the Transportation Safety Administration announced that back pay is being issued to workers as early as Monday, reigniting hope in the beleaguered aviation system.
Security wait times at several key TSA checkpoints, such as Atlanta and Houston airports, showed marked improvement Monday morning.
However, it remains uncertain how long it will take for long security lines to stabilize or what the duration of federal immigration officers' presence at airports will be as the bustling spring break travel season progresses.
The DHS shutdown has caused not only travel delays but also alarm over potential airport closures as TSA staff, frustrated over missed paychecks, ceased to report for duty. The repercussions were substantial after last fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
Wait times continued to stretch beyond two hours at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Monday morning. Baltimore-Washington International Airport recommended travelers arrive three hours in advance, citing possible delays.
President Donald Trump instructed the Department of Homeland Security on Friday to expedite the payment of TSA officers to alleviate the line issues affecting airports. This decision followed the President’s dismissal of bipartisan congressional measures aimed at providing the TSA with additional funding while negotiations with Democrats, who have refused to endorse further funding without associated restrictions on Trump’s immigration enforcement.
TSA employees had been without pay since funding for the DHS expired in February. The agency's shutdown entered its 44th day on Sunday, surpassing the record 43-day shutdown experienced last fall that affected the entirety of the federal government.
The DHS shutdown has contributed to not only travel delays but also warnings of airport closures as workers, frustrated by the lack of pay, began to call out from work. Reports indicate over 40% of TSA agents were absent, leading to nearly 500 resignations.
Last week, Trump also deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to several airports in reaction to the increased absence of TSA personnel. The duration of their presence is contingent on the speed with which TSA employees can return to work. A TSA statement confirmed the agency has started the process of compensating its staff, with paychecks expected to arrive as early as Monday.
