Security changes sits at the center of this dementia and brain health question.

Airport security is experiencing significant delays right now due to a combination of new policy changes and a staffing crisis. As of March 2026, wait times at major airports like Houston and Atlanta have reached two hours or longer, with some airports like New Orleans recommending travelers arrive three hours before departure—a dramatic increase from pre-pandemic norms. These delays are directly tied to the ongoing government shutdown that began February 14, 2026, which has left 50,000 TSA officers working without pay and has already caused more than 300 to quit.

For older adults planning travel, whether for family visits, medical appointments, or vacations, understanding these changes and how to navigate them is essential. This article covers both the immediate crisis and the longer-term security policy shifts that are reshaping airport experiences in 2026. The challenges ahead go beyond simple frustration—extended airport time can be physically taxing for seniors, those with cognitive concerns, and caregivers managing travel with older family members. This guide will help you understand what’s causing the delays, which new security programs might help, and what practical steps you can take to minimize stress and risk when flying.

What’s Causing the Current Airport Security Crisis?
New Security Policies Reshaping How You Travel
How Staffing Shortages Affect Your Security Experience
New Technology at Security: Biometric Screening and ConfirmID
Planning Your Trip in an Unpredictable Environment
Travel Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers
What Comes Next: Government Response and the Road Ahead
Conclusion

What’s Causing the Current Airport Security Crisis?

The primary driver of today’s airport delays is the government shutdown that began February 14, 2026. While Congress battles over budget negotiations, the TSA—like many federal agencies—continues operating but without funding. This means 50,000 TSA officers are showing up to work without paychecks, a situation that has proven unsustainable. According to NPR reporting, more than 300 TSA officers have already resigned due to unpaid wages, leaving airports critically understaffed. Philadelphia International Airport took the dramatic step of closing three security checkpoints entirely due to staffing shortages, forcing remaining officers to handle even longer lines.

The impact has been severe and immediate. On March 20-21, 2026, Houston’s airports and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International—two of the busiest in the country—saw wait times spike to two hours. New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport went so far as to recommend that passengers arrive three hours before departure, the kind of buffer typically reserved for international flights during holiday peaks. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re a sign of systemic strain across the system. When TSA officers are working without income, the attrition accelerates, which means fewer screeners, longer lines, and a vicious cycle that airport management struggles to contain.

What's Causing the Current Airport Security Crisis?

New Security Policies Reshaping How You Travel

Beyond the immediate crisis, the TSA has implemented several policy changes that fundamentally alter the airport security experience. One of the most welcome changes came in July 2025, when the TSA officially ended the decades-old requirement to remove shoes at security checkpoints. This may seem like a minor change, but for older adults with arthritis, balance issues, or cognitive concerns that make complex sequences stressful, eliminating one step in the security process can meaningfully reduce the hassle and anxiety of flying.

At the same time, the TSA fully enforced the REAL ID requirement as of May 2025. This means your driver’s license or state ID must meet REAL ID standards—essentially, it must include a star or indicator showing compliance. If your ID doesn’t qualify, you’ll need to bring additional documentation (like a passport), which complicates the process further. However, the TSA introduced a workaround called ConfirmID that launched February 1, 2026. For a one-time $45 fee, you can verify your identity through ConfirmID without needing a REAL ID—though this program is still very new and not yet available at all airports, so it’s worth checking if your local airport participates before purchasing.

How Staffing Shortages Affect Your Security Experience

The staffing crisis doesn’t just mean longer waits—it affects the consistency and professionalism of security screening itself. When TSA officers are overworked, underpaid, and stressed, the quality of the screening process can vary. Some checkpoints may be more thorough; others may rush through passengers more quickly to keep lines moving. For travelers with medical devices, prosthetics, or other items that require explanation, unpredictable staffing patterns mean you might encounter officers unfamiliar with screening procedures for your specific situation.

This is particularly concerning for older adults traveling with medications, mobility aids, or medical devices. A well-staffed, adequately rested TSA team provides more consistent screening and better customer service. During a staffing crisis, you’re more likely to encounter frustrated officers and less patience for complicated screening situations. Philadelphia’s closure of three checkpoints is a concrete example: rather than spread officers across multiple lanes, the airport consolidated operations, meaning even larger crowds and potentially longer individual wait times at remaining checkpoints. The solution—staffing more lanes or hiring more officers—requires budget and political will that hasn’t materialized during the shutdown.

How Staffing Shortages Affect Your Security Experience

New Technology at Security: Biometric Screening and ConfirmID

The TSA is introducing new technologies designed to speed up security, though they come with tradeoffs worth considering. Biometric eGates—automated kiosks that use facial recognition to verify your identity—are expanding at major airports. If you’re eligible and choose to use them, these can significantly speed up the ID verification portion of security screening. The system captures your photo, compares it to your passport or visa database, and allows eligible travelers to move forward without a human officer manually checking your ID. The advantages are clear: faster processing and fewer touchpoints. However, there are limitations.

First, biometric eGates are only available at certain airports and for eligible travelers—typically U.S. citizens and certain visa holders. Second, the system relies on technology, and technology fails. If you’re uncomfortable with facial recognition, have glasses or hearing aids that complicate the photo process, or simply prefer human interaction, you can opt out and use traditional security lanes. The new ConfirmID program offers another alternative: pay $45 once, get verified through a third-party identity check, and skip the REAL ID requirement going forward. But again, not all airports have ConfirmID available yet, and $45 is a real cost for travelers on fixed incomes.

Planning Your Trip in an Unpredictable Environment

One of the hardest parts of traveling during a staffing crisis is predicting how much time to allow at the airport. The TSA’s wait-time estimates, available on their website and through the TSA CheckPoints app, are helpful but can lag behind reality. On March 20-21, the spike to two-hour waits likely caught many travelers off guard who had checked wait times an hour earlier and saw estimates of 30-45 minutes. For older adults and their caregivers, the safest approach is to overestimate rather than underestimate.

New Orleans’ recommendation of three hours early is not excessive for major hub airports like Atlanta, Houston, or Philadelphia right now. Arriving early allows you to move through security at a comfortable pace, take breaks if needed, and avoid the stress of rushing. If you have mobility issues or cognitive concerns, arriving even earlier reduces pressure and allows time for explaining your needs to TSA officers. One limitation of this advice: if you arrive extremely early, you’ll spend more time in the airport before your flight, which can be fatiguing. The tradeoff is manageable with rest periods and planning which areas of the terminal have seating and food options.

Planning Your Trip in an Unpredictable Environment

Travel Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers

If you’re flying as an older adult or accompanying someone with cognitive or mobility concerns, several strategies can help navigate current conditions. First, use TSA PreCheck or Clear if you’re eligible—PreCheck ($78-$85 for five years) allows you to go through expedited screening with shoes on and liquids in your bag, and Clear ($189 per year) uses biometric data to verify your identity without showing ID. During a staffing crisis, these programs are more valuable than ever because they route you through less-crowded lanes. For a dementia care website audience, TSA PreCheck is particularly valuable because it reduces the complexity and steps involved in security screening, which can reduce confusion and anxiety.

Second, communicate your needs to TSA officers. If you need assistance, have a medical device, or are traveling with a caregiver, let the TSA know. Officers are trained to help, though their availability and patience depend on staffing levels—another reason to arrive early. Third, bring copies of any medical documentation if you’re carrying medications or devices that might raise questions. Finally, consider the time of day: early morning flights and mid-week travel typically have shorter waits than evening flights and weekend departures, so if you have flexibility, that’s worth using.

What Comes Next: Government Response and the Road Ahead

The government shutdown will eventually end, and when it does, the TSA will likely receive back pay for officers and funding to stabilize staffing levels. However, this won’t happen immediately, and the longer the shutdown lasts, the more officers we’ll lose permanently—people who took other jobs rather than wait for paychecks they weren’t sure would come.

The Department of Homeland Security has attempted to deploy ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents to assist at airports, but according to reporting from Government Executive, TSA experts have questioned how effective this approach will actually be, since ICE agents aren’t trained in TSA security protocols. Looking forward, the broader trend is toward more technology (biometric gates, ConfirmID) and less reliance on human screeners, though the current crisis shows the importance of maintaining an adequate workforce. For travelers, the message is clear: expect longer waits for the immediate future, use technology options that work for you, plan accordingly, and don’t hesitate to ask TSA officers for help.

Conclusion

Airport security in 2026 is in transition—caught between a staffing crisis that’s created immediate, severe delays and a longer-term shift toward new technology and policy changes. Two-hour waits at major airports are real, and they’re likely to persist as long as the government shutdown continues and officers lack paychecks. The new policies—ending the shoe removal requirement, REAL ID enforcement, ConfirmID options, and biometric eGates—offer potential speed and convenience, but they’re not available everywhere and come with their own learning curves.

For older adults and caregivers, the practical advice is straightforward: plan extra time, consider TSA PreCheck if you fly regularly, communicate your needs clearly to officers, and check wait times before you leave for the airport. Travel during airports’ less-busy times if possible, arrive at least three hours early for major hub airports right now, and remember that the current conditions are temporary. The TSA and airports are aware of the crisis and are working to address it, but solutions require political action on the government shutdown, which remains unresolved as of March 2026.