According to the Department of Homeland Security, TSA staffing shortage issues escalated after agents missed their first full payday over the weekend.
As of Sunday there were more than 111 incidents where the deficiencies threaten “operational integrity,” which the Department of Homeland Security describes as “hotspots.” Travelers across the country have reported long TSA lines snaking through airports, with some waiting for one to two hours at security checkpoints.
Houston Hobby International Airport reached a 55% callout rate on Saturday, which DHS described as the highest since the department lost funding last month.
According to DHS, the most concentrated rate of “hotspots” has occurred in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta since the shutdown began. Wait times exceeded an hour Sunday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which serves as a Delta Airlines hub and is one of the nation’s busiest airports.
“These numbers illustrate the extreme operational stress caused by the shutdown, underscoring the urgent need for resolution to restore stability, morale and security at America’s airports,” DHS said. “TSA funding must be restored immediately.”
Democratic lawmakers have delayed Republican efforts to pass a new bill to fund DHS, citing serious concerns about how they have handled immigration enforcement. Funding for DHS expires on February 13, and Democrats will push for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection before approving a new appropriations bill.
Most TSA agents received partial pay at first, but Friday missed the first full payday for airport workers. It’s the third payment DHS employees have missed in six months, which led to a record-long shutdown last year, according to DHS.
DHS said at least 366 TSA agents, classified as essential workers, had insufficient work in the past month. The department noted that it could take four to six months to train new agents, adding to TSA’s struggle to meet passenger demand.
TSA agent Anthony Riley, 58, told NBC News on Wednesday that he continues to work at Syracuse Hancock International Airport through the shutdown but that his family is at risk of homelessness.
The father of three is currently working with legal aid to avoid eviction and work out a payment plan with his landlord.
“This is the fourth week I’ve been working without pay and it’s killing me,” Riley said.
