TSA security lines at major U.S. airports have ballooned to 4, 5, and even 6 hours because of a partial government shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, leaving approximately 50,000 TSA officers working without pay. At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, passengers have reported waiting nearly six hours at the main security checkpoint. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is now urging travelers to arrive four or more hours early for domestic flights—a stark increase from the typical one-hour recommendation.
This article explains what’s driving the crisis, which airports are most affected, and what travelers need to know if they’re flying during this unprecedented staffing collapse. The root of the problem is straightforward: when TSA officers stop getting paid, they stop showing up. What started as a staffing shortage has become a full-scale security bottleneck that affects millions of travelers. This article covers the specifics of the shutdown, explains why some airports are worse than others, and outlines your options if you need to fly in the coming weeks.
Table of Contents
- Why Are TSA Lines Exceeding Four Hours at Some Airports?
- The Government Shutdown’s Impact on TSA Staffing
- Which Airports Are Hit Hardest?
- Should You Get TSA PreCheck Right Now?
- What About Other Federal Agents Helping at Security?
- What Time Should You Arrive at the Airport?
- When Will This End?
- Conclusion
Why Are TSA Lines Exceeding Four Hours at Some Airports?
The government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security since February 14 has created a perfect storm for airport security. Over 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay, and more than 300 have quit since the shutdown began. When federal workers don’t receive paychecks, attendance plummets and morale collapses. On average, over 12% of TSA staff are calling out sick on any given day—a number that swells at the busiest airports. Houston’s situation exemplifies the crisis. More than 50% of the TSA workforce at George Bush Intercontinental Airport has called out sick, creating wait times that regularly exceed four hours and occasionally stretch to six. Atlanta and New Orleans report that nearly 33% of their TSA staff called out sick as of March 23.
When half or a third of your security screeners don’t show up, the remaining officers can only process so many passengers per hour. The math is brutal: fewer screeners mean longer lines, and longer lines mean some travelers miss their flights. The shutdown also created a cascading effect. TSA officers who are already stressed and underpaid are now working without income. Some have turned to second jobs or decided to leave the agency entirely. The 300-plus officers who have already quit represent institutional knowledge, training investment, and experienced hands that are simply gone. Recruiting and training replacements takes months—a timeline the agency doesn’t have.
The Government Shutdown’s Impact on TSA Staffing
The partial government shutdown has stripped TSA of its ability to replace workers or maintain normal operations. Officers are being asked to do their jobs without paychecks—a situation that tests loyalty and personal finances in equal measure. Many officers have bills, mortgages, and families depending on them. For some, the choice is between continuing to show up unpaid or finding other work that actually provides income. However, if you assume TSA will quickly rehire fired officers or rapidly improve staffing levels, you’re likely to be disappointed. The agency’s hiring process typically involves background checks, medical exams, and training.
Even in the best circumstances, it takes weeks to onboard new officers. With the shutdown ongoing and no clear end date, the agency faces a long-term staffing crisis that won’t resolve overnight. The officers who quit aren’t coming back immediately, and new hires won’t be screening passengers this week. TSA has not closed security lanes entirely at most airports—instead, they’ve adapted by consolidating screening. Some airports have shut down TSA PreCheck lanes entirely due to staffing constraints. At JFK, TSA PreCheck wait times have ballooned to around 90 minutes, compared to a normal 13-minute wait. This trade-off shifts burden onto premium screeners while regular checkpoints absorb even more passengers, creating a bottleneck that disadvantages everyone.
Which Airports Are Hit Hardest?
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport represents the most severe case. With more than 50% of TSA staff absent, wait times regularly exceed four hours, and passengers have reported six-hour waits. A traveler trying to catch a morning flight might arrive at 5 a.m. only to clear security at 11 a.m., missing their flight entirely. The airport is one of the nation’s busiest, and the staffing shortage has made it nearly unusable during peak hours. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest airport by passenger volume, is urging all travelers to arrive four or more hours early.
With nearly 33% of staff out sick, the airport is processing passengers at a fraction of normal capacity. JFK in New York presents a different problem: TSA PreCheck lanes have closed or are running with skeleton crews, pushing standard security lines even longer. New Orleans experienced similar staffing collapse as Atlanta, with nearly 33% of officers calling out sick. The lesson is clear: major hubs with high passenger volume suffer the worst because they lack surge capacity. Smaller airports may see longer lines, but they process fewer total passengers. If you’re flying from Houston, Atlanta, JFK, or New Orleans in the coming weeks, plan for significantly longer security waits.
Should You Get TSA PreCheck Right Now?
TSA PreCheck normally offers faster security screening, but the program’s value has collapsed during the shutdown. At many major airports, TSA PreCheck lanes are closed or moving at barely faster speeds than regular lines. At JFK, PreCheck wait times are 90 minutes—seven times longer than normal. This means enrolling now won’t help you on an upcoming trip. However, if you fly regularly and plan to continue flying after the shutdown ends, TSA PreCheck enrollment still makes sense. The Known Traveler Number (KTN) is typically processed within 3 to 5 business days, though final approval can take up to 60 days.
An in-person appointment takes about 10 minutes. The real constraint is that TSA PreCheck enrollment sites themselves may have limited capacity or hours during the shutdown. Before planning to enroll, contact your local enrollment center to confirm they’re operating normally. The tradeoff is whether you need TSA PreCheck for an immediate flight or can wait. If you’re flying next week, enrollment won’t help—it’ll take at least three to five days for your KTN. If you’re planning trips in April or May, applying now might pay off once the shutdown ends and TSA PreCheck lines return to normal speed.
What About Other Federal Agents Helping at Security?
In response to the staffing crisis, the Department of Homeland Security deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to 14 airports as of March 23, 2026. This is an unusual measure that underscores how severe the situation has become. ICE agents are trained for border and law enforcement work, not airport security screening, so their effectiveness at expediting lines is limited. They can help with basic tasks and reduce strain on TSA officers, but they’re not a substitute for trained security screeners.
The ICE deployment also raises a practical concern: it diverts ICE personnel from their normal duties at borders and ports of entry. If ICE agents are reassigned to airport security lines, something else is being deprioritized. This isn’t a sustainable long-term solution—it’s a temporary patch on a much larger problem. The real solution requires either ending the government shutdown so TSA can operate normally or Congress appropriating emergency funding to compensate TSA officers. Neither appears imminent.
What Time Should You Arrive at the Airport?
The traditional advice has been to arrive 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights. Those timelines are no longer reliable during the shutdown. Houston is seeing six-hour waits. Atlanta is explicitly urging passengers to arrive four or more hours early just to reach the security checkpoint.
If you’re flying from a major hub, plan to arrive 3.5 to 4 hours before departure for domestic flights. For international flights or connections through major hubs, add extra time. A traveler connecting through Atlanta to catch an international flight should plan to arrive very early—possibly 5 hours before the first flight. The downside of arriving excessively early is the same as arriving too late: you may miss your flight anyway if the airport is overwhelmed. The key is checking real-time wait time information from your specific airport on the day of travel, not relying on national averages.
When Will This End?
The government shutdown affecting TSA began on February 14, 2026, and shows no immediate signs of ending. TSA officers have now gone weeks without paychecks, and the situation will only worsen if the shutdown extends into April. Historically, government shutdowns have lasted anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Until Congress and the administration reach a budget agreement, TSA will continue operating with a depleted workforce. The path forward depends entirely on political action—not on TSA operations themselves.
Once the shutdown ends and officers begin receiving paychecks again, some will likely return. Morale will slowly recover, sick leave rates should decline, and wait times should improve. However, the 300-plus officers who have already quit are unlikely to return quickly, if at all. It will take months for TSA to rebuild capacity even after the shutdown ends. Travelers should plan for extended security waits through at least mid-April, with a gradual improvement in May and June if political resolution comes soon.
Conclusion
TSA lines exceeding four to six hours are a direct result of the February 14 government shutdown, which left over 50,000 TSA officers working without pay. More than 300 have quit, sick leave rates have spiked to 12% or higher, and major airports like Houston, Atlanta, and New York’s JFK are overwhelmed. The ICE deployment to 14 airports is a temporary measure that cannot solve the underlying staffing collapse. The only real solution is ending the shutdown.
If you need to fly in the coming weeks, arrive much earlier than you normally would—plan for 3.5 to 4 hours before domestic departure from major hubs. Check real-time wait times the day of your flight rather than relying on historical data. TSA PreCheck enrollment won’t help for immediate trips but makes sense if you fly regularly beyond the shutdown period. The situation will improve only when the government shutdown ends and TSA officers begin receiving paychecks again.
