March 15, 2026 — Major U.S. airports Airlines for America (A4A), representing major carriers, urged Congress and the administration to end a partial government shutdown causing extraordinarily long TSA security lines at key hubs, with wait times reaching two to three hours and leading to missed flights during peak spring break travel.
A4A issued its statement on March 8, attributing disruptions to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapses leaving TSA officers facing $0 paychecks.
“As TSA officers are facing a $0 paycheck this week, we are seeing firsthand the significant strains that the current DHS shutdown is causing across the aviation system. TSA lines are two and three hours long at some airports, causing flights to be delayed and passengers to miss flights.”
The group called the situation “unacceptable and un-American,” noting airlines have prepared for record spring passenger numbers but require federal action to reopen DHS operations.
Affected Airports and Wait Times
Reports detailed severe delays at airports including Houston’s William P. Hobby, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International. CNBC noted lines exceeding three hours at Hobby, prompting advisories to arrive up to five hours early. New Orleans airport stated a shortage of TSA workers at checkpoints due to the shutdown.
NPR checked three airports on March 13: five minutes at Dulles International, 25 minutes at Atlanta (with prior two-hour waits reported), and seven minutes at New Orleans. Houston saw 30-45 minute lines, while Denver averaged 15 minutes. TSA officers have worked without pay since February 14.
TSA officer Suzette said, “The officers can’t afford to come to work… How can you afford to come to work? Where are you getting the money from to pay?”
Travelers like Greg Moritz described Atlanta’s PreCheck lines as moving “at a crawl.”
Traveler Impacts and Airline Policies
Long lines have caused missed flights, but USA Today reported airlines are not issuing refunds, viewing TSA delays as airport responsibilities. Affected passengers may receive rebookings or credits. Experts advise arriving three to four hours early and checking airport websites, as the MyTSA app remains unupdated.
Social Media Reports
Real-time X posts on March 14 highlighted chaos at Austin airport, with lines stretching outdoors amid the shutdown entering its second month. One post cited TSA warnings of over three-hour waits and more than 300 officers quitting. Political debates over blame and refund policies emerged in replies.
A4A reiterated that airlines urge action amid extraordinarily long TSA security lines at major U.S. airports to avert further strain, as issues persisted through March 14.