TSA wait times spike at Houston, O'Hare, Newark, Baltimore, Detroit, Cincinnati: If you are flying, start early

Air travel across the United States is experiencing mounting disruption as security wait periods surge at major airports, which includes Houston, Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Baltimore, Detroit, and Cincinnati. The crisis, currently in its second straight week, is being driven by severe workforce shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) amid the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

With thousands of TSA employees going unpaid since February 14, airport security systems are under unprecedented pressure forcing travelers to get ready for long delays and unpredictable situations.

Record-breaking delays hit major airports

Passengers are facing some of the longest security wait times in US aviation history. Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told Congress that delays at specific checkpoints have surpassed four and a half hours.

In Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport witnessed lines extending at least four hours on consecutive days. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the situation became so extreme that the airport’s wait-time tracking system was overwhelmed, with some travelers reportedly waiting up to six hours over the weekend.

Staffing shortages cripple TSA operations

The major reason for the disruption is in a growing staffing crisis. Thousands of TSA officers working without pay for over a month have been calling out of work everyday, leaving checkpoints understaffed.

Nationwide, around 11% of TSA employees have been absent in recent days, but the impact is uneven. Some airports are operating with up to 40–50% of their security workforce missing, forcing the agency to merge screening lanes and reduce operations.

Houston’s airports, for example, reported nearly 40% staffing shortages, while Phoenix recorded absence levels around 18%. In major hubs like New York and Atlanta, absentee rates have exceeded 30%, further worsening delays.

Financial hardship among TSA employees

The prolonged shutdown has positioned immense financial strain on TSA workers, many of whom remain to serve without pay.

Addressing Congress, Ha Nguyen McNeill stated:
“Many in our workforce have missed bill payments, received eviction notices, had their cars repossessed and utilities shut off, lost their child care, defaulted on loans, damaged their credit line and drained their retirement savings.”

Over 480 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown started, and staff have collectively missed almost $1 billion in wages across two shutdown periods within six months.

Uneven disruptions and growing concerns

While delays are widespread, specific airports are experiencing more extreme interruptions than others. Houston and Atlanta remain among the hardest hit, but ripple impacts are being experienced nationwide.

Jim Szczesniak, aviation director for Houston’s airport system, cautioned:
“We worry conditions will only get worse at airports across the U.S. until Congress ends this shutdown.”

TSA officials have also warned that if staffing levels reduce further, some smaller airports could encounter temporary closures because of the inability to maintain security operations.

Emergency measures provide limited relief

To handle the situation, federal officials have deployed immigration and Homeland Security Investigations personnel to assist at airports. However, their ability to ease congestion remains limited, as they are not completely trained to substitute TSA screening officers.

Despite these attempts, absenteeism continues to be high. DHS reported that 11.1% of TSA officers and almost 3,160 personnel missed work on a recent day, with even higher rates at significant airports.

What travelers should do

With no guaranteed way to avoid delays, travelers are being encouraged to plan ahead. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck may help in certain cases, although even expedited lanes have faced disruptions.

Many airports provide real-time updates on security wait times, but conditions can shift rapidly. The most reliable guidance remains simple: arrive early and expect delays.

FAQs:

Q1. Why are TSA wait times increasing?
TSA wait times are increasing due to staffing shortages caused by the ongoing DHS shutdown. Many airport security workers are absent because they are working without pay.

Q2. How long are passengers waiting?
Some passengers are waiting several hours to clear security checkpoints. In extreme cases, delays have exceeded four hours or more.