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By Alia Shoaib
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Several airports around the U.S. are experiencing lengthy security lines, with passengers waiting in line for hours, amid a partial government shutdown which has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers unpaid.
The airports most severely affected are William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, with passengers being advised to arrive several hours before their flight departure time.
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The Trump administration has blamed Democrats for the partial shutdown, which has led to funding for the Department of Homeland Security stalling since February 14. Democrats have previously called for reforms to immigration enforcement policies in exchange for approving long-term DHS funding.
The flight disruptions come as the busy spring break travel period begins.
Newsweek contacted TSA for comment via email on Monday, outside of regular working hours.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Lauren Bis told Newsweek in an emailed statement on Monday: "Today, travelers are facing TSA lines of up to nearly 3 hours long at some major airports, causing missed flights and massive delays during peak travel."
"This chaos is a direct result of Democrats and their refusal to fund DHS. These political stunts force patriotic TSA officers, who protect our skies from serious threats, to work without pay," she added.
Which Airports Have Been Hit by Delays?
Houston, Texas
William P. Hobby Airport in Houston has been badly affected by delays. The airport wrote on X on Sunday that passengers should arrive four to five hours before their flight to allow for extra time for TSA screening, with wait times possibly exceeding 180 minutes.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston has also warned travelers to arrive early, stating that the partial government shutdown is affecting its TSA operations, though it does not appear to be as severely affected as some other airports.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans is experiencing lengthy lines, with photos from Sunday showing some lines stretching through the parking lot.
The airport said on X that passengers should arrive at least three hours before their flight due to longer-than-average lines caused by a shortage of TSA workers.
Atlanta, Georgia
Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also experiencing delays and long security lines, partly due to the TSA staffing shortage and partly due to severe weather that disrupted normal operations over the weekend.
The airport wrote on X on Sunday that travelers should plan to arrive at least three hours before their flight.
Charlotte, North Carolina
At Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, delays at security checkpoints were about 50 minutes long on Sunday, according to Business Insider.
This list is not exhaustive.
Update 03/09/26, 7:22 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the DHS.
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