Why did TSA wait times worsen under shutdown?

TSA staffing fight and the expectation of longer airport lines

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that TSA wait times would likely “go to get much worse” as a partial government shutdown dragged on and TSA officers continued working without pay. The warning reflects a staffing and morale problem tied directly to the broader DHS funding dispute.

Multiple stories in the pool connect the shutdown to travel disruption. Duffy urged TSA employees to report for duty, adding that officers were going to get paid—an attempt to stabilize staffing amid uncertainty about when funding would resume.

Related reporting also describes passengers facing growing congestion and delays as TSA callouts and resignations rise during the funding standoff. In that context, airport disruptions have become a central pressure point in the negotiations, with officials and travelers watching for any sign that TSA staffing would normalize.

The worsening wait-time expectations also help explain why the administration pursued backup staffing measures involving other parts of DHS. When TSA cannot fully absorb security throughput demands, the administration moved toward using ICE agents to help manage line congestion and checkpoint flow.

The issue matters beyond individual inconvenience. Long airport security lines affect travel schedules nationwide, intensify scrutiny of DHS and TSA management during the shutdown, and become a political lever in congressional negotiations over DHS funding. As delays mounted, Republicans attempted to advance or maneuver funding solutions, while Democrats criticized both the shutdown strategy and any plan to insert immigration enforcement into airport security operations.