Travelers wait in long TSA lines at Chicago airports as schools begin spring break amid DHS shutdown Travelers faced extended waits at airport security checkpoints Saturday as Chicago Public Schools started spring break, prompting families to travel. The delays were attributed to a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which has left TSA agents working without pay. President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy ICE agents to major airports as soon as Monday if a funding agreement for DHS is not reached. The move comes amid growing concerns over airport security and the strain on TSA staff. "If the Radical Left Democrats don't immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before," Trump stated on Truth Social. The shutdown, now in its fifth week, has left nearly 50,000 TSA workers without pay, with many struggling to afford basic necessities. A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the call-out rate for TSA officers reached 10.22% on Friday, indicating a significant number of staff are unable to work. Travelers expressed frustration over the situation, with one noting, "Travelers are already extremely stressed by the time they get to the airport. Bring it another barrier outside of TSA." Long lines and wait times at airports like Chicago O'Hare International Airport have worsened due to staffing shortages. Travelers like Sheyla Morillon voiced concerns about the chaos, saying, "I'm a little concerned because we're probably in a big group today, and so we have a lot of stuff, so hopefully it just goes by fast.#donald_trump #tsa #department_of_homeland_security #chicago_public_schools #chicago_o_hare_international_airport
