Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
Long TSA wait times? Here’s what to know
Posted
March 20, 2026
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March 20, 2026
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2:37Now PlayingVideos of passengers stuck in long airport security lines across the country have flooded social media this week. A partial government shutdown affecting TSA is to blame.
TSA agents continue to work without pay during a partial government shutdown. Around 50,000 TSA officers have now missed multiple paychecks since the shutdown begun on Feb. 14. The shutdown centers around disagreements over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and reforms to federal immigration enforcement policy.
That's left TSA agents under increased financial burden, with agents calling out in droves and some forced to find second jobs. Over 300 agents have quit altogether, amidst the third shutdown in less than a year.
For travelers, the reduced workforce has snarled security lines, with time at major airports like Houston's George Bush Intercontinental and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson reaching beyond two hours.
PBS News breaks down what you need to know about the shutdown and how to find accurate security line times for your airport.
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