Travelers Face Long Airport Lines After Missed Paycheck

Updated March 16, 2026 — Travelers across the U.S. faced long airport lines after many TSA employees missed their first full paycheck amid a partial government shutdown. The shutdown, driven by a standoff in Congress over Democrats’ demands for immigration changes, forced hundreds of screening officers to work without pay. CBS News obtained data showing more than 300 TSA employees have quit since the funding lapse began, and call-out rates have more than doubled. Sunday recorded the highest call-out rate so far, with 10.19% of staff at all airports calling out, according to TSA data released Monday; the previous peak was Saturday at 9.25%. Airports with the highest call-out rates as of Monday included Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy in New York, William P. Hobby in Houston, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, and Pittsburgh International. Over the weekend, travelers encountered long lines at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International amid spring break, an approaching storm and staffing shortages. Austin Bergstrom posted photos showing a crowded departures hall, and Atlanta’s screening checkpoint became jam-packed with wait times reaching nearly two hours at one point. Chris Sununu, who leads the industry group Airlines for America, urged lawmakers to resolve the situation and pay employees: “What else is more important than paying your own workers? Have your political fights on the side, but don’t drag down the entire traveling American public because of it,” he said. Airlines for America members’ CEOs sent a letter to Congress after some TSA officers received a $0 paycheck, calling the situation “simply unacceptable.” In the letter they added that “it’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.” Political leaders traded blame. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News he hopes “Democrats will come to their senses, open up DHS.” On Face the Nation, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said, “If we can’t agree on ICE reforms, let’s pay everybody else, with the budget that the Republicans laid out.” President Trump posted on social media thanking TSA agents who continued to work without pay and blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report.