The ongoing funding shutdown affecting the US Department of Homeland Security is beginning to strain airport security operations across the US. Internal data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shows that unscheduled absences among frontline security officers have risen sharply since the funding lapse began on 14 February.
Before the shutdown, the average national absence rate among transportation security officers stood at roughly two per cent. During the shutdown, that number has climbed to about six per cent, with some days seeing even higher figures. The rate peaked at around nine per cent in late February, followed by several days in early March when absenteeism remained significantly elevated.
Nearly 50,000 security officers have continued working without pay during this period, a situation that officials say is affecting morale and attendance.
Some airports have seen far more severe disruptions. At William P Hobby Airport, more than half of the scheduled officers called out on 8 March, and nearly half were absent again the following day. Other major airports have also reported high absence levels, including John F Kennedy International Airport, where the absence rate averaged more than 20 per cent during the shutdown. Elevated rates were also recorded at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.
Extreme weather has compounded the situation. A major blizzard in late February triggered particularly high absence levels at New York–area airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport, further straining security staffing.
The shutdown has also led to a rise in employee departures. TSA data indicates that more than 300 employees have left the agency since mid-February. Replacing these workers is a slow process, as new recruits typically require several months of training before they can independently staff airport checkpoints.
With fewer officers available, some airports have been forced to consolidate screening lanes or temporarily close certain checkpoints. Passenger travel demand has remained strong, meaning the remaining officers are screening larger volumes of travellers. In several locations, this has led to long security lines and extended wait times.
