Hundreds of TSA Officers Resign Over Unpaid Salary, Leaving Travelers in US Aiports Stuck in Long Security Lines

Hundreds of TSA officers have quit their jobs because they haven't been paid since mid-February, leaving passengers stuck in long airport security lines. At the same time, winter storms in the Midwest and the start of spring break have made things worse.

Some travellers report waiting more than an hour just to get through security. The shortage of staff is affecting many big airports, and union leaders warn that unpaid workers can't keep going forever.

Airlines are asking Congress to fix the problem quickly to avoid more delays.

Unpaid Salaries Force Officers to Leave

According to CNN, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which manages the TSA, said more than 300 officers have resigned. Many others are taking unscheduled days off because they aren't getting paid.

Everett Kelley, head of the union representing 46,000 TSA officers, said it's no surprise that people are quitting. He explained that many officers still show up to work, but the stress of not being paid is hard to manage.

TSA data shows that unscheduled absences have jumped from 2% to 6% during the shutdown. This, combined with resignations, is slowing security lines at airports across the country.

Passengers Face Long Waits

Airports are currently struggling to cope.

In Atlanta, passengers reported waiting 70 minutes at regular checkpoints. Even TSA PreCheck, normally faster, saw waits of around 40 minutes. New Orleans airport warned travellers they could wait up to two hours and advised arriving three hours before flights.

In the Midwest, winter storms have caused cancellations on top of the staffing shortage. Minneapolis-Saint Paul cancelled over 670 flights, while Chicago's O'Hare and Midway cancelled more than 1,200. More than 20 million people were under winter weather alerts, causing extra travel chaos.

Financial Pressure on TSA Staff

Without pay, officers are making tough choices. Unlike last year's full shutdown, fewer financial support options exist this time. Some staff have withdrawn thousands of pounds from retirement savings (£1,500–£3,000, $1,850–$3,700) to cover bills, while others borrow money from family.

George Borek, a TSA officer in Atlanta, said there is less support available this time, and staff are struggling to cover basic needs. Some airports, including Denver and Boise, are asking the public to donate groceries, gift cards, and household items to help officers keep working.

Airlines Ask Congress to Act

The current US government partial shutdown began in mid-February because Congress failed to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lawmakers are divided over issues, including immigration reform, leaving DHS without a full budget. As a result, essential workers like TSA officers continue to work without pay.

The shutdown will last until Congress passes a funding bill that both the House and Senate approve and the President signs. There is no set end date, and past shutdowns have lasted from a few days to several weeks, meaning uncertainty remains for federal employees and travellers alike.

CEOs from American, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue sent a letter to Congress asking them to restore DHS funding and ensure federal aviation workers get paid during shutdowns. They warned that unpaid staff hurt not only the employees but also airport operations and passengers.

The letter highlighted how officers must cover basic expenses like rent and fuel without pay. Airlines warned that if the shutdown continues, travel delays could get worse.

Federal employees will get back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law. But until then, travellers should expect long lines and extra delays at airports.

For now, however, the shortage of TSA staff, combined with winter weather, is creating a challenging situation for US air travel.