The US airports where you should brace for long security lines as unpaid TSA agents stop showing up for work
Tech Insider
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 8: Airline passengers wait in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Sunday, March 8, 2026. The line stretched from the security checkpoint into the lower level baggage claim area to the lower level parking garage.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
Some US airports are warning travelers about long TSA lines.
The delays come as TSA agents, facing a missed paycheck amid the partial government shutdown, are not coming to work.
Houston Hobby, San Juan, and New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport all warned of delays.
As TSA agents are expected to miss their first full paycheck on Saturday because of the partial shutdown, which started in February, some are not coming in to work.
On Sunday and Monday, the staffing shortages resulted in long lines in some airports. The disruption, which appears to have lessened in some airports as of Tuesday morning, comes as air travel hits the busy spring break period.
In X posts on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, described the situation as "spring break under siege" and shared photos of throngs of people waiting in an airport.
SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE.
The Democrats’ DHS shutdown has led to HOURS long security lines at airports across the country, leading Americans to miss their spring break flights.
There is ZERO reason for spring break travel to be held hostage for political points — Democrats… pic.twitter.com/sp1vnzXJbb
For now, the chaos appears largely localized to a handful of airports — but travelers should expect lines across the US to worsen the longer the security officers work without pay.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired in mid-February after Democratic lawmakers demanded changes to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
TSA agents also worked without pay during the record government shutdown in October and November, and received their back pay once the government reopened.
Here's a look at some of the airports where travelers can, as of Tuesday morning, expect longer TSA wait times.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport
In its latest update at 4 p.m. on Monday, New Orleans Airport wrote that wait times had improved and were ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.
Peak periods are from 4 a.m to 7 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Passengers should arrive two hours before their flight, the airport said.
"Please plan to arrive to the Airport 3 hours early if you have travel scheduled on Monday," New Orleans Airport wrote on X Monday morning. The airport said security screening wait times could reach up to two hours and warned the delays could continue through the week.
While wait times have improved today, the situation remains fluid. Please arrive 2 hours before your scheduled departure. pic.twitter.com/Oxf7Z5ujeo
— New Orleans Airport (@flyneworleans) March 9, 2026
Houston Hobby Airport
Travelers flying through Houston Hobby Airport should arrive three to four hours before their flight, the airport wrote in its latest update on Monday evening.
"Spring Break travel is still underway, so expect a busy airport," the airport wrote, noting that TSA opens as early as 3 a.m.
In a Monday X post, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said it was experiencing extended wait times at TSA checkpoints. It did not specify how long the lines are, but advised travelers to arrive early.
As of Tuesday, the TSA wait times on the airport's website are all under 15 minutes.
Please continue to monitor airline communications and ATL’s official social channels for additional updates and information.
Houston's larger airport, George Bush Intercontinental, said in a Monday X post that fewer TSA lanes may lead to longer wait times. The airport was reporting 20 minutes or less as of its latest update on Monday afternoon.
As a result of the federal government shutdown, fewer TSA lanes may be open.
Arrive early and allow for extra time for security.
The main airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said on X Monday that some passengers have been experiencing "longer-than-usual" security lines due to TSA shortages and recommended that travelers arrive at the airport three to four hours early.
"We appreciate your patience as we continue to collaborate with our federal partners to maintain passenger flow in the terminal," it said.
Nuestro director de operaciones, Nelman Nevárez, ofrece una actualización sobre los tiempos de espera en los puntos de inspección de seguridad en el Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín (SJU).
"Due to the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing levels may affect security wait times at CLT in the coming days," the airport said in a Tuesday X post, encouraging travelers to budget extra time.
Due to the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing levels may affect security wait times at CLT in the coming days. Travelers are encouraged to arrive early and allow additional time to pass through security screening.
