Summary
Travelers in the U.S. faced long waits at airport security checkpoints due to staffing shortages in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These shortages are linked to a partial government shutdown affecting TSA employees who are working without pay. The wait times varied by airport and time, with some wait times exceeding two hours at major hubs.
Key Facts
- TSA staffing shortages are causing long security wait times at U.S. airports.
- The staffing issues are due to a partial government shutdown, with agents working unpaid.
- Callout rates, or the number of agents not reporting to work, have reached 10% nationwide.
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had wait times of up to two hours.
- Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport reported delays of up to 150 minutes.
- Some airports like Los Angeles had minimal delays, showing variability by location.
- The TSA encourages travelers to check real-time wait info using airport websites or the MyTSA app.
- Airports have asked the public for donations to support TSA workers during the shutdown.
