Air travelers face another busy weekend as uncertainty looms over TSA workers’ pay

Busy Travel Weekend Amid Pay Uncertainty

A spring break travel surge has created hectic conditions at airports across the country, with passengers experiencing longer delays than usual. Despite the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that Transportation Security Administration staff should receive back pay on Monday, confusion persists among workers about the timeline. President Donald Trump issued a directive Friday to expedite payments, but union leaders note the implementation details remain unclear.

TSA Workers’ Pay Delayed by Government Shutdown

Weeks of a partial government shutdown have left nearly 500 TSA employees resigning, while thousands more have reported absences. The agency cited rising costs for essentials like fuel, childcare, and housing as key factors driving this exodus. TSA agents have been making significant personal sacrifices to manage the financial strain of delayed paychecks.

“I think one of the questions from the workforce is, ‘Well, is this temporary, or is TSA fully funded now?’” said Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees’ TSA Council 100.

Staffing Shortages and Traveler Impact

With fewer staff on duty, security lines at major airports have grown to hours-long durations. At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, wait times reached unprecedented levels, prompting officials to advise travelers to arrive four hours early. Cold weather and wind added to the chaos, as passengers bundled in layers waited in lines that extended both inside and outside the terminal.

Kevin, a traveler from Virginia, described the scene at the Baltimore airport: “There’s babies outside, the elderly, people in wheelchairs, they’re freezing. The US Congress is a disgrace. Absolute disgrace. Both parties.”

Meanwhile, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, wait times hovered around 40 minutes by Saturday afternoon. In Orlando, delays stretched to an hour, while George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston faced lines exceeding two hours, according to CNN’s tracking data.

Airport Responses and Continued Challenges

Some airports have deployed National Deployment Officers to ease congestion, but these efforts fall short of addressing the broader staffing crisis. At Houston’s airport, 32 such officers arrived Saturday morning, yet the system emphasized their limited impact. In Atlanta, security lines were shorter than usual, though the situation remains volatile.

“WE’ve been here since 5:45 a.m. WE’ve missed our flight, again, because we were diverted yesterday,” said a traveler attempting to rest during the wait. “It’s a struggle, but everybody’s being very cheery, or trying to be.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore highlighted the strain on ICE agents, who were temporarily assisting at security checkpoints instead of focusing on immigration enforcement. “These are American fathers and mothers and sons and daughters who serve our country every single day,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley, criticizing Congress for leaving workers without pay during the shutdown. “Congress left them without a paycheck and went on a two-week paid vacation on our dime.”