Updated March 20, 2026, 2:24 p.m. ET
- A partial authorities shutdown is inflicting TSA employee shortages, main to lengthy airport safety strains.
- Travelers are suggested to arrive on the airport a lot sooner than traditional, particularly in the course of the busy spring break interval.
- Airlines should not required to compensate passengers who miss flights due to lengthy safety waits.
There’s no such factor as arriving on the airport too early amid the partial authorities shutdown, and that is very true this weekend.
Airports across the nation have seen TSA lines and wait times balloon due to Transportation Security Administration worker shortages, and spring break isn’t serving to.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport expects greater than 3.7 million spring break vacationers to go by means of it between Thursday, March 19 and Monday, March 23.
The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, is additionally anticipating excessive quantity and advising vacationers to arrive not less than three hours before scheduled flight departures.
Before leaving for the airport, right here’s what you must know.
When to get to the airport
Typically, vacationers are suggested to arrive two hours early for home flights and three hours early for worldwide flights, however vacationers ought to examine their airport’s web site for details about safety strains and plan to go away additional time before their flight.
Best-case situation, you get by means of safety early. Pack a ebook, cellphone charger or snack to tide your self over till your flight.
Worst-case situation, you don’t give your self sufficient time and miss your flight solely.
How to examine TSA wait occasions
TSA just isn’t updating wait occasions on its MyTSA mobile app throughout the federal government shutdown, however some airports are updating wait occasions on their respective web sites and social media.
Not all airports specify how early vacationers ought to arrive, however airports like Newark Liberty International are advising passengers to “please allow extra travel time” due to longer safety waits.
What you’re owed should you miss your flight
Usually, airlines don’t owe you anything should you miss a flight due to one thing inside your management. However, some airways might rebook you on the subsequent out there flight as a courtesy.
Of course, vacationers can’t management how lengthy safety screening takes throughout the federal government shutdown, however they’ll management how early they arrive on the airport.
Airports may shut
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in an interview on CNBC on March 19 that smaller airports might be compelled to shut if TSA staffing shortages persist, which he warned will change into extra probably within the subsequent week as officers are set to miss one other paycheck.
“This is going to look like child’s play what’s happening right now. You’re going to see small airports, I believe, shut down. You’re going to see extensive lines, and air travel is almost going to come to a grid-halt, stop,” Duffy stated.
That echoed a warning from Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl earlier this week, who equally stated that smaller airports could also be compelled to shut quickly if the partial authorities shutdown continues.
Why are TSA wait occasions so lengthy?
TSA staff should not being paid in the course of the partial authorities shutdown, due to funding lapses at the Department of Homeland Security. During the earlier authorities shutdown final fall, many federal staff had to pick up side work to make ends meet. Some may no longer afford childcare.
“Many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars − forcing them to call out sick from work. At Houston Hobby Airport, call-outs reached a staggering 55% over the weekend,” the Department of Homeland Security posted on X on March 17.
The similar day, DHS famous 366 TSA officers have left the force for the reason that present shutdown started, suggesting longer-term impacts even after the shutdown ends. “This loss significantly decreases TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and leaves critical gaps in staffing, as each new recruit requires 4-6 MONTHS of training,” the division posted.
