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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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Travelers faced long lines at security checkpoints at airports in Houston and New Orleans on Sunday, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) struggled to keep them adequately staffed amid the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a statement shared with Newsweek and other news media, Lauren Bis, the department's deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, blamed Democrats for the chaos airline passengers are facing.
"Americans are now enduring the severe fallout from the Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security," she said.
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Why It Matters
The lengthy delays at U.S. airports follow the partial government shutdown that began on February 14 after Democratic lawmakers refused to approve new funding for DHS until restrictions on federal immigration operations were imposed. The demand from Democrats followed the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens—Renée Good and Alex Pretti—by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year, which have turned public opinion against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
What To Know
According to information shared by TSA, travelers faced the longest wait at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, where they were stuck in line for about 165 minutes. On Friday, the airport had warned that it was expecting more travelers than usual because of spring break.
In a series of posts published on X on Sunday, the airport first advised travelers to arrive early. Then it urged them to arrive three to four hours before their flight, before finally asking them to get there four to five hours in advance to get through the screening on time. Wait times, the airport warned, could exceed 180 minutes.
A video the Houston Chronicle shared on the platform showed airline passengers waiting at the airport for three and a half hours on Sunday.
Other videos shared on X showed the busy airport with long lines of people waiting for security screening.
On the same day, airline passengers waited an average of 60 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, according to TSA data; 51 minutes at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston; and 47 minutes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
On Sunday, the New Orleans airport also warned travelers via social media to arrive "at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure time" to counteract wait times of up to two hours and expected delays.
In a video shared on X, the lines of airline passengers at the New Orleans airport appeared to stretch into the parking lot.
What People Are Saying
Lauren Bis, the deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Transportation Security Administration, said in a statement to Newsweek and other news media: "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. These frontline heroes received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages.
"Democrats are shamelessly playing politics with national security, punishing hardworking TSA workers and their families. Enough is enough: Stop holding national security and everyday Americans hostage. Democrats must fund DHS now."
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Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport wrote on X on Sunday: "Due to impacts from the federal government's partial shutdown, the TSA is experiencing a shortage of workers at the security checkpoint, which is causing longer-than-average lines. Passengers with travel scheduled today are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure to allow plenty of time to undergo security screening. ... The Airport has staff on hand to help keep the lines organized, and we will continue to coordinate with our federal partners with the TSA as they navigate this issue."
Jim Szczesniak, the director of aviation for Houston Airports, said in a statement shared on X: "Spring Break brings some of the busiest travel days of the year. This year, Houston Airports is expecting 2.2 million travelers while the federal government remains shut down. Security screening is handled by our federal partners at TSA. Today, we saw firsthand how committed some officers are—taking on additional shifts to keep security lines open at Hobby Airport.
"At the same time, we're seeing strong travel demand with fewer screening lanes open at some checkpoints. When more passengers meet fewer security lanes, wait times can grow quickly."
What Happens Next
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport warned on Sunday that delays "could continue for the rest of the week." Houston's William P. Hobby Airport advised travelers to "remain flexible as the government shutdown may impact security operations from one day—and even one shift—to the next."
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