How are ICE and TSA affecting airport lines?
Airport security chaos escalates as DHS agents fill gaps
Multiple U.S. airports are seeing severe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) delays as the partial funding shutdown continues, with federal immigration officers sent to supplement staffing and operations.
At several major hubs, travelers reported security lines that grew from hours into sustained bottlenecks—reports cited waits reaching roughly four hours and, in some cases, up to six hours. The disruptions have led to broader travel disruptions, including tighter operational controls and increased passenger friction, particularly around peak departure times.
The staffing approach appears driven by two simultaneous pressures: TSA’s reduced workforce during the shutdown and a need for rapid throughput at terminals. In response, ICE officers were confirmed at at least one airport for a second straight day, and DHS agents were deployed to a set number of airports as part of the broader effort to move passengers through checkpoints faster.
Airlines have responded to the operational strain by adjusting policies. Delta and United (in coordination with other carriers) moved to provide rebooking flexibility for passengers impacted by long TSA waits and airport chaos, including waivers or fee relaxations in specific situations.
Other related policy moves also show the knock-on effects of the shutdown. Delta temporarily suspended Congress-specific airport “specialty services,” effectively removing VIP-style help at security checkpoints. Separate reporting indicated that some fast-track access for members of Congress was revoked or paused due to constraints tied to DHS funding disruptions.
For U.S. travelers, the central issue is reliability: longer security lines are reshaping flight plans in real time, increasing missed-flight risk and adding costs and uncertainty. For policymakers, the story is also a test of how federal agencies manage continuity of services when funding remains contested.