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By Jasmine Laws
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Photos and videos circulating on the social media platform X show huge lines in airports amid an ongoing, partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport shared photos of the long lines of travelers waiting to check-in their luggage and of passengers waiting to complete security screening on X on Sunday.
The airport advised travelers to arrive at the airport two and half hours early for a domestic flight or three hours before for an international flight, given the delays.
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LaGuardia Airport in New York also warned that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines are "currently longer than usual." The airport advised travelers come to the airport "early to ensure you have enough time to clear security before your flight."
Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights, an American nonprofit advocating for airline passengers rights, told Newsweek that the lines are "likely to get longer until Senate restores TSA funding."
"Congress may have to feel more pressure to act as Democrats and Republicans seem dug in holding TSA funding hostage to disagreements on immigration enforcement," he added.
Newsweek has emailed the TSA and the American Federation of Government Employees, a union for federal employees for comment outside normal working hours.
Why It Matters
The partial shutdown of DHS started on February 14, as lawmakers clashed over reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following federal agents' deadly shootings of American citizens in Minnesota.
The shutdown means that TSA workers having to forgo their pay checks, resulting in challenging financial uncertainty for them, but also significant strain at airports, from security delays to long waiting times to check in luggage for flights.
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What To Know
DHS also shared footage on X taken by a local news outlet of what the department said were "shockingly long lines" at Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
"Security lines in Fort Lauderdale stretched out the DOOR this morning as Democrats continue to force our patriotic TSA officers to work without pay—for the THIRD time in nearly six months," the department wrote on X.
Other images of long lines at various airports were circulating on X on Sunday, after there were notable flight and security delays reported as the busy spring break travel period began last week.
William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina were among the airports particularly hit with delays last week.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy also shared a letter sent by various airline chief executive officers (CEOs) and presidents to Congress, voicing their concern about the ongoing DHS shutdown and its impact on air travel.
In the letter, the 10 CEOs said that "once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown," adding that "the problem is solvable, and there are solutions on the table."
They called for TSA workers, air traffic controllers and U.S. customs officers to continue to be paid during the shutdown, and that Congress must "come together" to reach an agreement about how to fund DHS going forward.
They said that Congress should pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which they say would "guarantee air traffic controllers are paid regardless of the government's funding status," as well as the Keep America Flying Act, which they say would "provide the same protections to TSA officers who are tasked every day with keeping Americans secure in the skies."
The CEOs said it was "simply unacceptable" that TSA officers have received no paychecks since the partial shutdown of DHS. "It's difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid," they wrote.
Discussions in Congress about passing a funding bill to reopen DHS have been heated, and the Senate rejected the fourth proposed funding bill on Thursday.
The White House and the GOP have been blaming Democrats for the ongoing shutdown of DHS, as they seek to implement reforms to how the department is run, though Democrats have proposed separate funding for the TSA and other DHS agencies while plans for DHS are ironed out.
What People Are Saying
A DHS spokesperson previously told Newsweek in relation to the travel delays: "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."
DHS also wrote in a post on X on Thursday: "Our TSA officers and their families are paying the price for the Democrats’ reckless shutdown. Patriotic TSA agents like Anthony Riley continue to show up to work to keep our travelers safe. This is THIRD time in nearly six months the Democrats have forced our TSA officers to work without pay. These political stunts are creating incredible financial hardship for them and their families."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, wrote on X Thursday: "Democrats are ready to fund TSA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency]. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]. And Coast Guard. Republicans are blocking it."
Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri, a Republican, wrote on X Thursday: "Democrats have had plenty of opportunities to reopen DHS & get paychecks out to hardworking Americans. Instead their solution is to defund ICE, the Coast Guard, TSA, & Secret Service. They want blanket amnesty for the 15M people they let in illegally. It's a hell no from me."
What Happens Next
It is likely that airport disruptions will continue until a bill to fund DHS is passed, and the partial shutdown lifted.
Update 3/16/26, 11:47 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Paul Hudson.
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