The ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), driven by Democrats, has resulted in alarming wait times at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest in the world. Travelers are facing delays of over three hours as more than 400 TSA agents resign due to missed paychecks.
The impact is particularly noticeable during the peak spring break travel season when passenger traffic is at its highest. Videos from key airports, including Denver and Dallas, show extensive lines that stretch around baggage claim areas, while TSA pre-check lines now exceed one hour.
Hartsfield-Jackson has become a focal point for these delays. Security lines at multiple checkpoints have reportedly extended to between 75 and 120 minutes, with some waits even reaching three hours. In certain cases, airport staff warned passengers of potential delays stretching up to five hours, leading to the temporary closure of some domestic checkpoints due to staffing shortages.
🚨HOLY CRAP!!!
The Atlanta TSA line has now stretched to a stunning 153 minute-wait-time… AT 6AM IN THE MORNING!!!!
The line is WRAPPING AROUND BAGGAGE CLAIM!!!
THIS IS PURE INSANITY!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/2MluEMjitJ
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) March 22, 2026
Absenteeism among TSA officers has peaked at around 38 percent during certain days, which has exacerbated the delays.
In Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, wait times climbed to two hours with call-out rates hitting up to 40 percent. Passengers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were advised to arrive at least three hours ahead of their flights.
Philadelphia also faced challenges, with three security checkpoints temporarily closed due to staffing issues, while JFK in New York reported absence rates between 25 and 40 percent.
JUST IN🚨: Major disruption at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this morning 😳 Several TSA checkpoints (including A-West, C, and F) are temporarily closed due to staffing issues from the ongoing partial gov shutdown. Lines shifting—arrive early! pic.twitter.com/j0zYpyBLPG
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) March 19, 2026
The TSA has about 50,000 officers who serve as essential personnel during the funding lapse. However, they experienced their first missed paychecks in mid-March, prompting over 300 officers nationwide to resign.
Nationally, call-out rates on affected days have averaged over 10 percent, particularly impacting busier airports.
Senate Democrats pushed for the shutdown to address federal immigration enforcement issues. Their move to defund DHS occurred despite adequate funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through 2029.
This ongoing shutdown not only affects TSA operations but has also disrupted activities at other DHS agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard. The resignation of over 400 TSA agents highlights the severity of the situation, forcing many to seek other employment while they experience payment delays.
Despite the significant ramifications of the shutdown, Senate Democrats continue placing blame on Republicans, even though nearly all members of their party voted to sustain funding, with the exception of one.
