Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
- Some US airports this week warned travelers about long TSA lines, though the disruption has eased.
- The delays come as TSA agents, facing a missed paycheck amid the partial government shutdown, are not coming to work.
- Houston Hobby, San Juan, and New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport all warned of delays.
The effects of the partial government shutdown have been on display in some US airports since the weekend.
As TSA agents are expected to miss their first full paycheck on Saturday because of the partial shutdown, which started in February, some are not coming in to work.
On Sunday and Monday, the staffing shortages resulted in long lines in some airports. The disruption, which eased on Tuesday and appeared largely over by Wednesday, came as air travel hits the busy spring break period.
In X posts on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, described the situation as "spring break under siege" and shared photos of throngs of people waiting in an airport.
The chaos was largely localized to a handful of airports — but travelers could see lines across the US worsen if the partial shutdown continues and security officers continue to work without pay.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired in mid-February after Democratic lawmakers demanded changes to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
TSA agents also worked without pay during the record government shutdown in October and November, and received their back pay once the government reopened.
Here's the latest from airports where travelers have seen the biggest disruption this week, as of Wednesday morning.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.