Spring break is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and the TSA has screened more than two million passengers daily in mid-March, according to the TSA website.
Needless to say, it’s a very bad time for the TSA workforce to be cut in half. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s been happening, according to multiple reports.
TSA workers are calling in sick in major airport hubs throughout the United States, and passengers need to be aware of the issue so they don’t miss their flight.
TSA workers aren’t getting paid, and they aren’t coming to work
TSA staff have a pretty good reason for skipping work. They aren’t being paid to be there.
The Department of Homeland Security has not been funded by the government as a result of a stalemate over immigration issues.
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US News & World Report indicates that the situation is not close to being resolved, even though DHS has been shut down for more than 30 days.
“The White House is still refusing to engage on some of the most pressing demands Democrats have called for since day one,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday, March 18, reported US News & World Report.
Because TSA is under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security, the partial government shutdown has directly affected the workers who perform airport screenings.
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“Right now, our heroic TSA officers are not being paid, and many cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars,” the Department of Homeland Security wrote on X (the former Twitter).
“Some are even staying in airports overnight because they can’t afford their commute.”
Although they will be paid after funding is restored, View from the Wing reports that as many as 55% of screeners have called in sick because they can’t afford to come to work and wait for a paycheck in the distant future.
TSA agents are not being paid due to the partial government shutdown.
Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock
How can you avoid missing your flight?
So, what can you do if you have a trip to take and are worried that the TSA staffing shortage will cause problems for your travel?
View from the Wing offered some suggestions that could help you deal with the airport chaos.
- Sign up for PreCheck or Clear. “PreCheck is often much better, though at some airports they’ve been closing PreCheck lines to process all passengers through each checkpoint as general security,” wrote Gary Leff of View from the Wing. Clear also provides another option for fast-tracking security, so if you’ve signed up for both, you can select the shorter line.
- See if there’s a Priority Security queue: You may be able to cut to the front of the security line if you’re flying first class or have priority status on any airline.
- Sign up for TSA Touchless: There’s a separate line for those who participate, and there are fewer people signed up, since it’s a pretty new program.
- See if you can reserve your spot: Some airports, including Orlando and Phoenix, allow customers to reserve a dedicated time to go through security.
- Arrive early: Ultimately, the best and only option if you want to be absolutely sure you don’t miss your flight is to arrive a few hours early.
Of course, this advice may not help if TSA shuts down at your chosen airport entirely.
“The Trump administration is now warning that some smaller airports could be forced to suspend operations due to lack of TSA staffing,” Leff explained.
If that’s the case, you’ll be notified of your options by your airline and can hopefully find a way to rebook at a less crowded airport where TSA remains at least partly operational.
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