Unpaid TSA Workers Struggle Amid Government Shutdown, Straining Airports and Travelers Travelers faced prolonged delays at major airports as unpaid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers struggled to stay on duty during a partial government shutdown. Security lines stretched for hours, with wait times expected to worsen over the weekend. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, passengers endured over two hours in security lines by early Saturday, while delays at Orlando and JFK airports reached an hour and half, respectively. Carlos Monroe, a traveler whose family missed a 6 a.m. flight after waiting more than three hours, criticized the situation, calling it “not fair” and lamenting that “the big people aren’t paying the price for the little people.” The financial strain on TSA officers, who have been working without full pay since mid-February, has led to widespread absenteeism and resignations. Nearly 10% of TSA workers called in sick on Thursday, just below the record 10.22% absentee rate set earlier in the week. Over 366 officers have quit since the shutdown began, according to the Department of Homeland Security. At Hartsfield-Jackson, more than a third of screeners were absent earlier this week, forcing passengers to wait in security lines for up to two hours. In Houston, over half of TSA workers called out on Friday, exacerbating the crisis. The situation has reached a breaking point for many workers, who are grappling with eviction notices, vehicle repossessions, and empty bank accounts.#hartsfieldjackson_atlanta_international_airport #transportation_security_administration #john_pistole #orlando_international_airport #sean_duffy
