Staffing issues at the Transportation Security Administration surged over the weekend after officers missed their first full paycheck due to a partial government shutdown, creating hourslong wait times for travelers as callouts increase operational concerns, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
On Sunday, there were more than 111 incidents where shortages threatened "operational integrity," situations that the DHS describes as "hotspots." Travelers across the country reported lengthy TSA queues that snaked through airports, with some waiting one to two hours at security checkpoints.
Houston Hobby International Airport reached a 55% callout rate on Saturday, which the DHS has described as the highest since the department funding lapsed last month.
Acting TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told NBC News on Monday that certain airports are disproportionately impacted, though there have been significant issues across the United States.
"Austin this morning was particularly problematic... security, of course, is unimpacted in terms of the security system, but things will continue to worsen in terms of impact to wait times," Stahl said.
Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta are where the most concentrated rate of "hotspots" have occurred since the shutdown began, according to DHS. Wait times exceeded an hour at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, which serves as a Delta Airlines hub and is considered one of the busiest airports in the country.
“These numbers illustrate the severe operational strain caused by the shutdown, underscoring the urgent need for resolution to restore stability, morale, and security at America’s airports," DHS said in a statement. "TSA funding must be restored immediately.”
Democratic lawmakers have delayed Republican efforts to pass a new bill to fund DHS after expressing serious concerns over how the embattled agency has handled immigration enforcement. Funding for DHS expired on Feb. 13, and Democrats insist on reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection before they approve a new appropriation bill.
Most TSA officers received a partial paycheck at first, but Friday marked the first full paycheck missed for the airport workers. It's the third paycheck missed by DHS employees in six months, when factoring in the record-long shutdown last year, according to DHS.
“We don’t know what attrition ramifications will be at the end of this shutdown,” Stahl said. “We can’t imagine it’ll be great, particularly with increases in travel for summer travel, spring break, of course, as well as the World Cup. This is a recipe for a pretty, really dire situation.”
At least 366 TSA officers, who are classified as essential workers, have quit their jobs in the last month, DHS said. The department noted that it can take four to six months to train new officers, compounding TSA's struggle to meet passenger demand.
Many officers are making between $35,000 and $40,000, with some being unable to afford the cost of gas to get to work at this point, Stahl said.
“They have to make a difficult decision of either to pay their grocery bills, pay for their child care, or coming to work,” Stahl said.
TSA officer Anthony Riley, 58, told NBC News on Wednesday that he's continued working at Syracuse Hancock International Airport through the shutdown but his family is facing the risk of homelessness.
The father of three is currently working with Legal Aid to avoid eviction and work out a payment plan with his landlord.
"This is the fourth week I’m working without pay and it’s killing me," Riley said.
