2-3 Hours? Why TSA Lines Are Exploding at Airports During the Government Shutdown

March 9, 2026

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DHS Shutdown Triggers Airport Chaos
1. TSA officers are working without pay
2. Travel demand Is Still Consistent
3. Internal DHS Issues
Airports reporting the worst delays
What travelers should do right now
Monitor airport wait times
Avoid tight connections
The Pundit’s Mantra
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Last week, I wrote about how President Trump fired Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary and announcned an immediate replacement. If you’ve been following travel news over the past couple of days, you may have noticed reports of extraordinarily long security lines at several U.S. airports. In some cases, travelers are waiting two to three hours just to clear security. So what’s going on? The issues are stemming from internal disruptions in how the DHS operates, given a partial government shutdown.

DHS Shutdown Triggers Airport Chaos

At the heart of the problem is a partial shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, the agency that oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Congress has not yet passed a funding bill for DHS, therefore several operational consequences have kicked in, as reported by AP.

The estimated wait time at the standard security checkpoint at the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston early Sunday evening was at one point three hours, according to the Houston Airports website. The Hobby airport on social media Friday said it expected more travelers than normal due to spring break.

In a series of posts Sunday, the airport on X went from urging travelers to arrive early to asking them to arrive 3 to 4 hours before their flights to eventually asking them to arrive 4 to 5 hours early to allow extra time for screening, citing the partial government shutdown.

1. TSA officers are working without pay

During a government shutdown, TSA officers are considered essential workers, which means that they must report to work even if they’re not getting paid. In such situations, absenteeism tends to rise, as some employees take leave or call in sick until funding is restored. This means that when you go to the airport, there are few officers at checkpoints, which means longer wait times.

Posts on X from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Sunday said a shortage of TSA agents at the security checkpoint was leading to “longer-than-average” lines. The airport urged travelers to arrive at least three hours before their flights and said wait times could last up to two hours. It warned similar delays could continue through the coming week.

2. Travel demand Is Still Consistent

Spring break travel is starting across the United States and airlines and airports were already expecting millions more passengers compared to last year. When heavy passenger volumes meet reduced staffing, bottlenecks appear quickly.

3. Internal DHS Issues

Beyond the shutdown itself, several reports suggest that internal restructuring and staffing cuts within DHS oversight offices have added to the operational strain. While these changes don’t directly slow down airport screening, they contribute to overall instability inside the agency, which isn’t helpful during a peak travel period.

Airports reporting the worst delays

The disruptions are not uniform across the country, but several airports have reported particularly severe wait times over the past 24–48 hours.

Travelers have reported long lines at:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

At some of these airports, security wait times reportedly stretched beyond two hours, with lines occasionally extending outside the terminal.

Given how interconnected U.S. air travel is, delays at major hubs like Atlanta can also cascade across airline networks.

What travelers should do right now

Arrive earlier than usual

Airports are advising travelers to arrive at least one additional hour earlier than they normally would.

For example:

Domestic flights: 2-3 hours before departure
International flights: 3-4 hours before departure

This buffer can make the difference between catching your flight and watching the gate close.

Monitor airport wait times

Before leaving for the airport, check:

Airport websites
Airline apps
Real-time security wait trackers

Many U.S. airports publish live checkpoint wait times, which can help you choose the fastest security line.

Avoid tight connections

If you’re booking flights in the near future, try to avoid short layovers in major hubs. Delays at security checkpoints or staffing shortages could create knock-on delays throughout the system.

The Pundit’s Mantra

At the moment, the delays are thankfully only restricted to a few airports. However, given how air travel is structured, this can spill over very quickly. If you’re looking to travel, then it would be best to arrive well ahead of schedule at the airport and keep a tab on wait times. Moreover, it would be prudent to constantly monitor notifications from your airline before you fly.

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Marriott Bonvoy

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