We’re now several weeks into the latest partial government shutdown, which means many federal workers aren’t receiving paychecks. Perhaps the most public impacts of this are felt at airports, and there are some statistics that I think are worth covering.
In this post:
How many TSA agents are calling in sick for work?
One of the (many) big stories in recent days and weeks has been how long security lines have been at many airports in the United States. As you’d expect, TSA agents are increasingly calling in sick, as they haven’t received a paycheck in weeks. It’s totally unfair how they’re pawns in all of this, as they can’t even afford to come to work, in terms of paying for childcare, gas, etc.
Along those lines, how bad is the situation really? Of course the narrative nationally is that security lines are hours long, yet on both flights I’ve taken in the past week, security took under five minutes. Kris Van Cleave shares some interesting statistics about TSA sick calls:
- On Sunday, March 15, 2026, 10% of TSA officers nationwide called in sick, which is 5x the usual rate (around 2%); this number has been increasing considerably day-by-day, particularly on weekends
- Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) has been among the worst in the country for sick calls, and on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the airport had 55% of screeners call in sick, compared to 41% the Sunday prior
Also, while not related to sick calls, 366 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began. There are around 50,000 throughout the system, so that’s around 0.7% of the workforce.
It seems logical that the number of sick calls would increase on weekends and also over spring break, purely from a childcare perspective, as parents can’t afford childcare when they’re not getting paid. So in terms of security lines, I think those are probably the times to be most worried about disproportionately long waits.
I’m curious how soon until the “system” breaks
Over the years, many government shutdowns have been ended due to the impact that a lack of paychecks has on our aviation ecosystem, particularly for air traffic controllers and TSA agents.
What makes this particular situation different is that air traffic controllers are being paid, while TSA agents aren’t. That’s because TSA agents are part of the Department of Homeland Security (which isn’t being funded), while air traffic controllers are part of the Department of Transportation (which is being funded).
So I have to imagine this shutdown would end sooner if air traffic controllers weren’t being paid (not that I’d wish that on them). That’s because nothing makes national headlines and causes alarm quite like a situation where nearly all air traffic controllers at an airport call in sick.
The trend here is clear — the number of sick calls keeps increasing — and I feel like we’re at most one or two weeks from some airports just being completely unusable. In Houston, we’re seeing a 7-8% increase per week (admittedly only across a few weeks), and if that continues, well…
President Trump addressed the TSA situation in a social media post a few days ago, telling officers to go back to work:
Thank you to Johnny Jones and all of our GREAT TSA Agents who are going to work but not being paid because the Radical Left Democrats refuse to honor the deal that was approved and voted on in Congress. They want your money to go to “Border Criminals, Murderers, foreign Drug Dealers, and some of the worst people on earth.” They don’t want it to go to you. Keep fighting for the USA. GO TO WORK! I promise that I will never forget you!!! President DJT
Meanwhile House Speaker Mike Johnson posted the following last night:
Delayed at the airport? Thank a Democrat.
Democrats have voted REPEATEDLY to PROTECT criminal illegal aliens and PREVENT our own American TSA agents from getting paychecks.
Democrats have chosen to make the American people suffer just so illegal aliens can stay in our country.
Bottom line
TSA officers haven’t been getting paychecks for several weeks now, which is really unfair (especially given that they dealt with the same thing just months ago). While the staffing issues are a bit uneven, one thing is for sure — this situation is getting worse.
This past weekend, around 10% of officers nationwide called in sick, while one airport (Houston Hobby) saw 55% of officers call in sick. I’m curious how much longer we have until the system basically shuts down nationally.
How do you see the TSA situation playing out in the coming weeks?
BTW, I screwed up earlier this week. I had forgotten I opted for Touchless ID for precheck with AA and could have used it a DFW to avoid a rather long precheck line in terminal D. That would have been fun. I cleared passport control without showing my passport, and could have done the same for TSA.
I've rethought this. Staying in the regular precheck lane only cost me 15 minutes of club time before my flight. My saved 15 minutes would be borne by others. So, in this environment, I'm glad I didn't do it.
Yesterday I flew from PNS and the Pre line was empty, just me, quickest ever, while the regular line had like 10 people. I connected in IAH and walked close to the Terminal E TSA security point and the speakers were asking for patience with delays.
TSA already stopped the perk that congress people have of bypassing all lines, but the airlines took the relay and escort these politicians to the front of the...
Yesterday I flew from PNS and the Pre line was empty, just me, quickest ever, while the regular line had like 10 people. I connected in IAH and walked close to the Terminal E TSA security point and the speakers were asking for patience with delays.
TSA already stopped the perk that congress people have of bypassing all lines, but the airlines took the relay and escort these politicians to the front of the TSA line. If the privileged democrat officials had to spend hours in line, this "boycotting" the funding would end in a New York minute.
TSA is a waste anyway. It sucks that this is holding up airports, but we should just dissolve the security facade.
Agreed 150%
My brother flew out to Japan from ATL yesterday. He followed some of the online advice to go around to the international terminal for shorter lines, only to find that most everybody had done the same. Multi-hour lines at 7 AM. He didn't know it yet but it really didn't matter how long he got stuck in line, since DL295 got delayed first by somebody destroying a toilet and then by a missing flight attendant...
My brother flew out to Japan from ATL yesterday. He followed some of the online advice to go around to the international terminal for shorter lines, only to find that most everybody had done the same. Multi-hour lines at 7 AM. He didn't know it yet but it really didn't matter how long he got stuck in line, since DL295 got delayed first by somebody destroying a toilet and then by a missing flight attendant for what I assume was a replacement crew. All-in-all, his flight departed 8 hours late and he's only just about to land at Haneda now.
I'm not looking forward to the lines when my wife and I fly out for our honeymoon next week. Hopefully getting there before 6AM will help.
Internationally the TV news is counting the Trump ways. The other day it was Denver airport TSA agents asking for food handouts. Yes that is sad. But imagine the news world wide, he is spending Billions per day. China internet is taking advantage of that.
He can bomb put he can't pay his own people.
Its a very low situation.
Its not Mr. Trump who is not paying. The President has no power to pay anything. It is the Congress, and in this case specifically the Senate. The Democrats want to disolve ICE so they are refusing to vote to fund the DHS. Crazy enough is that ICE is funded through the end of this year aleady, so their holdout is purely theatrical to try to make Mr. Trump look bad. This whole fiasco is 100% the fault of Chuck Shumer and his cronies.
Of course your “facts” are wrong but I’m guessing you already know that.
Shutting down some airports, airlines get nowhere to fly, fleet sitting on the ground, then they will bring down the ticket prices
Mike Johnson likes to suck dick. Everyone knows.
I think I pay federal taxes for every airline ticket purchased ? Doesn't those taxes paid by the pax mean they already have their pay ?
And we pay our taxes to have weapons to defend our borders.
Why is it sent continents away from our border just to make domestic gas and grocery prices go up.
Heck I thought that's the unpublished whole point of taking over Venezuela, so ME conflict wouldn't drive up our oil prices so much.
Didn't we fight a civil war on people being forced to work without pay? Also, consider what would be done BY THE GOVERNMENT if any company fo4ced people to work without pay!
POLITICIANS - MAKIN THE WORLD SAFE FOR HYPOCRASY!
"Didn't we fight a civil war on people being forced to work without pay?"
No, we didn't!
"if any company fo4ced people to work without pay!"
They're called tipped workers.
Wonder if those who don’t skip the work during the shutdown will get 10k again just like last time.
The 10K was more hypocrisy- although used as a PR Gambit, LESS THAN 7% OF TSA EMPLOYEES WERE SELECTER to get that money. That was for the press reports and NOT for the vast majority of TSA Employees!
Another problem caused by government. Oh, but we "need" them to perform these services. No, actually, we don't.
How about not allowing sick passengers ?
How about requiring passengers to wear masks ?
How about ending the ludicrous permissions for disease-ridden dogs amongst the pax ?
America is getting everything we voted for. Wars everywhere. Complete loss of civility. Gas prices through the roof. Inflation unresolved. Slowing economy. American criminals who tried to overthrow the government wandering the streets. Pedophiles and sex traffickers running free. 'Merica!!!
Depends on the neighorhood .
Is this what MSNBC told you to think? We pay some of the lowest gas prices in the world.. if you hate America so much, why don't you move to Hong Kong, where gas is over $14/gal.. or maybe Germany at over $8/gal!
You uninformed liberals need to spend a week or two in Iran, or Somalia, and see just how bad we have it! Get a grip and grow up!
And Mark is pulling a conservative strawman.
You're both victim of propaganda.
And you seem to be more brainwashed than Parker.
Keep voting Democrat and this will be the result.
Would you like a tissue, snowflake?
Typical liberal response.
Jim, you and your MAGAt friends are too ignorant to realize the Dems are willing to fund TSA. Sign the bill! End the Trump Shutdown.
UA NYC- At the expense of the US taxpayers by extending billions of dollars in health care and education. No, we are NOT ok with giving illegals a free ride while our vets get nothing.
Jim is cool spending billions to actively end the lives of Iranians and other GCC nations but not to save a single foreigner within the borders. Teachings of Jesus, indeed.
Yes, I’m all for defending ourselves against a country that wants to wipe my country and Israel off the face of the planet.
And YES! I am against funding illegal criminals!
What does Israel have to do with 'my' country?
Actually no, the Democrats want to de-fund ICE, which is part of Homeland Security, and won't sign off on the bill until they get that concession. I'm guessing that won't happen anytime soon..
Mark, I think we should defund the corrupt, decadent and incompetent police, TSA and the DMV. They don't give a damn about you anyway.
What will be the result?
Hey UA-NYC. . .
The problem is you and your socialist morons are trying to deflect the blame (again). Classic projection — blame the other guy for exactly what you are doing! Dem Socialists are only willing to fund TSA “IF” they get their way and the Dem Socialist bill to defund ICE is passed. Otherwise, it’s gonna be maximum pain and punishment — and blaming the other guy when Dem Socialists are the ones holding TSA paychecks hostage!
Oh I didn't realize the daily cost of fighting Iran was free. I guess the gop was right to block the democrats from trying to stop it 2 weeks ago with war power restrictions on a President who just felt like sending missiles into another country without consulting Allies but expects them to help AFTER the fact.
Enjoy the cost of living over the next 3 months. I don't care. I'm retired comfortably and I spend most of my time away from this crazy place now.
What will be the result?
Sitting "public servants" of American citizens are refusing to fund the government that serves American citizens unless an agency that removes from America non-American citizens that are in America illegally is defunded. Where is FBI? Why has nobody been arrested yet?
The fbi is allegedly busy with the epstein files. But don't worry nobody will be arrested there either so no need to use a lot of tax dollars. Just a few here and there for flying off and celebrating with hockey teams
The first step, which is being discussed, is to fund everything except for ICE which itself was funded through the end of this administration last year.
The next step is to remove the ability to withhold government worker pay during government shutdowns if they are required to show up for work. Yes, it defeats the purpose of withholding funding but everyday people should not be used as hostages in bipartisan bickering.
Long security lines are...
The first step, which is being discussed, is to fund everything except for ICE which itself was funded through the end of this administration last year.
The next step is to remove the ability to withhold government worker pay during government shutdowns if they are required to show up for work. Yes, it defeats the purpose of withholding funding but everyday people should not be used as hostages in bipartisan bickering.
Long security lines are bound to hurt airlines that have hubs at airports being most affected. WN, for one, certainly wants this all to end.
So far today, B6 says capacity is down due to previous winter storns and fuel is up - about $3/gal is the current industry thinking for the quarter. DL reaffirmed its previous earnings guidance for the quarter based on strong revenue which offsets about $400 million in extra fuel costs for the quarter - even w/ a higher refinery benefit than for 2026 (1st quarter 2025 was stronger than 2025 as a whole and growing MRO revenues). DL expects profit sharing for the 1Q2026 to exceed 1Q2025.
Or FUND EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE POLITICIANS until they learn to compromise and do their jobs!
I'll second that!
Be interesting if TSA just opened the lines and sent everyone through without checks/scans for a few days..
Sadly that might be the best retaliation to funding games.
We're just one deadly incident away post security from getting funding right back.
It will be resolved as soon as some Congress loser gets stuck in a long TSA line (even PreCheck).
This will all be resolved when a couple more Republican jerks leave Congress. I am happy to stay home if that's what is needed to stop the detention and shooting of innocent US citizens. I can't wait until we have a government that believes in following the Constitution. That glorious day in 2029 cannot come soon enough.
"I can't wait until we have a government that believes in following the Constitution. That glorious day in 2029 cannot come soon enough."
It's difficult to imagine an individual being this naive.
This is around the time Ted Cruz abandoned Texas for a vacation.
Congress can get an escort to use the crew line so this doesnt impact them. Thats why its gone on so long
Why can’t trump do another eo and fund tsa agents?
See my reply to Julie, immediately below.
Your reply is factually lacking information, jack. Stop pretending that it somehow makes sense to withhold funding from most of DHS due to regret with prior votes about ICE
The President cannot fund anything. Only the Congress can authorize spending. Read the Constitution. Its not that long.
Politics of it all aside, it does seem pretty dumb to withhold funding from agencies in DHS like the TSA over ICE reforms when the democrats already allowed ICE to be fully funded this year, as is.
Incorrect. The Democrats (I'm not one) proposed a stand-alone bill to fully fund TSA. The Republicans rejected it, insisting it be tied to broader DHS funding. This was just in the past week.
it is correct. Sorry Jack. Broaden your news sources. And yes. Denying funding across DHS is equally dumb as only TSA when the reason is ICE, which it is. ICE is fully funded and will be for some time.
Yes, “broaden your news sources” says the definitely American definitely human person! Any more hot takes, comrade?
@high flyer
somebody has seen a few too many conspiracy theory articles lol
Putting aside the specific reason Democrats are withholding DHS funding, if they succeed is backing the Republicans down we'll see this approach by every minority party going forward. In effect, the minority will have a line item veto so long as they have 41 seats in the Senate. Its a recipe for perpetual gridlock even worse than we have now, with a loss of majority rights....an expressly anti-democracy outcome. Whether you hate or love ICE,...
Putting aside the specific reason Democrats are withholding DHS funding, if they succeed is backing the Republicans down we'll see this approach by every minority party going forward. In effect, the minority will have a line item veto so long as they have 41 seats in the Senate. Its a recipe for perpetual gridlock even worse than we have now, with a loss of majority rights....an expressly anti-democracy outcome. Whether you hate or love ICE, this isn't the way to address that issue.
@Mark F
Didn't we already see it with the obstructionist GOP Congress during Obama's second term? That cat's out of the bag.
And I disagree that this isn't the way to address it. This is democracy in action. Compromise is necessary. The GOP refuses to compromise, despite not having a majority large enough to pass things without bipartisan support. Seems a no-brainer here. You want to pass things without a 60 vote majority,...
@Mark F
Didn't we already see it with the obstructionist GOP Congress during Obama's second term? That cat's out of the bag.
And I disagree that this isn't the way to address it. This is democracy in action. Compromise is necessary. The GOP refuses to compromise, despite not having a majority large enough to pass things without bipartisan support. Seems a no-brainer here. You want to pass things without a 60 vote majority, kill the filibuster. Only problem there is that Republican politicians understand that their agenda is massively unpopular, so last thing they want to do is pass those things when they and they alone would be held accountable for it.
The other thing they could do is revisit the Carter DOJ decision that reversed 200 years of keeping the government running on the prior appopriation levels until new appropriations could be passed and led directly to the GOP weaponization of shutdowns from the '90s onward. But they won't do that either because they *like* weaponizing these shutdowns.
The dems really ought to consider funding TSA now.
See my reply to Julie.
They have put up bills that would do that something like 6 times in the last week. Republicans won't vote for it -- they insist on all-or-nothing funding for all of DHS with no changes to the Gestapo (ICE). This is 100% on Republicans.
so the Democrats voted for or allowed ICE to be funded through the end of the Trump administration and now the Democrats regret that. So the response is to deny funding to most of the rest of DHS -- things like airport safety and other areas that keep America safe?
Sorry. No. that's dumb to link their regret about ICE to unrelated parts of DHS