The United States has been under a partial government shutdown since February 14, affecting a single, vast department: the Department of Homeland Security.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is mired in a partisan battle between Democrats and Republicans.
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Democrats are calling for reform at the department in the wake of the violence in the immigration crackdown. Republicans have rejected the request as unreasonable.
But while the Department of Homeland Security has a variety of missions from border security to emergency management, the closure’s most visible impact has been felt at the nation’s airports.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is under the agency’s jurisdiction, and the closure will The workers left without pay.
The last paycheck they received was more than two weeks ago and included only part of their compensation for their work. Last Friday, they were not paid their full salaries for the first time.
Some TSA employees have responded by resigning, while others have taken unscheduled leave. As a result, long lines and delays are occurring at airports amidst staff shortages.
TSA’s transportation security workforce is comprised of approximately 50,000 people and is responsible for screening passengers, baggage, and cargo at airport terminals.
Here’s how the closures are impacting lives and conditions at America’s airports.
what’s happening?
Congress must pass spending bills to keep federal agencies funded.
In early February, it passed a $1.2 trillion spending package to keep the federal government afloat through September. However, there was a big caveat. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security would be voted on separately.
Democrats refused to support funding for DHS unless changes were made to immigration enforcement policies. Their demands included requiring immigration officials to clearly identify themselves and banning racial profiling.
Supporters argued that such measures were necessarily in response to the deaths of two Americans, Alex Preti and Renee Good, in a federal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
But Republicans denounced the request as unacceptable. They also rejected a Democratic proposal to vote on partial DHS funding that would exclude spending for immigration enforcement.
The controversy has sparked a political deadlock in Congress and a partial government shutdown currently affecting TSA employees.
Funding for DHS expired on February 14, and efforts to pass a new funding bill for DHS have stalled since then.
What is DHS?
DHS is the government department responsible for protecting the nation from security threats such as “terrorist” cyberattacks and border-related risks.
It was created in 2002 after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
The department has more than 260,000 employees and oversees multiple agencies focused on security, border control, and emergency response.
These include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and TSA.
What pressures do TSA officers face?
Despite the closure, much of DHS remains operational.
For example, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, provides nearly $170 billion for immigration efforts.
As a result, government agencies such as ICE and CBP are less affected by the shutdown.
But employees at other DHS agencies, such as the TSA, are grappling with back pay and reduced resources.
This is the second time in recent months that people have had to work without pay, after a record 43-day shutdown that began on September 30, 2025.
Some workers believe that being out of work is the reason for late bill payments, debt burdens, and increased care needs for family members.
According to news reports, 10 percent of TSA employees were called in sick this Tuesday. As more employees are absent from work, labor advocates say there is increasing pressure on those who remain.
Unions are calling on Congress to pass the Shutdown Fairness Act, which guarantees paychecks for employees during the federal government shutdown. They argue that such a bill would “ensure that federal employees are not treated as political pawns in the event of future funding shortfalls.”
How did President Trump react?
President Donald Trump blamed Democrats for the chaos and threatened not to sign any new legislation until DHS is fully funded.
But since the shutdown went into effect, President Trump announced that Kristi Noem would resign as DHS secretary, but there is no indication that her firing was the result of controversy under her leadership.
President Trump continues to step up his criticism of Democrats in an effort to prevent an impasse. On Monday, he posted on Truth Social, “Crazy Democrats aren’t allowing TSA employees to get paid.”
Why are U.S. airline CEOs asking Congress to end the shutdown?
Chief executives of airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, UPS and JetBlue warned that the closures are straining airport security staffs.
In a joint letter to Congress released Sunday, the agencies warned that the closure is making conditions at airports intolerable for both employees and travelers.
“Air travel is a political game as we face another government shutdown,” the executives wrote.
“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, gas in your car, and pay rent when you’re not getting paid.”
How will the closure affect airport operations?
On a typical day, fewer than 2% of TSA employees call in sick or miss work, according to DHS.
But since the DHS shutdown began on February 14, as many as 20 percent of TSA employees have not reported to work at airports in Atlanta, New York, and Houston.
Absenteeism rates on Sunday and Monday soared to more than 50% in Houston and more than 30% in New Orleans and Atlanta.
DHS also reported that 366 TSA employees quit their jobs during the shutdown.
Wait times at security checkpoints have been reported to exceed 100 minutes at some airports. There is also a call for travelers to donate food and gift cards to TSA workers who are working without pay.
“It’s been a few weeks now, and it’s not an exaggeration to suggest that if this situation continues and departure rates increase, we literally may have to shut down some airports, especially smaller airports,” TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News this week.
Why are airlines especially concerned now?
Airlines say the timing is especially concerning as the U.S. enters a busy travel season.
Spring break travel has seen an increase in passenger numbers, but severe weather warnings have already caused some flight cancellations.
At the same time, aviation systems are preparing for major events that will drive travel demand, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations.
Airline executives have warned that continued staffing shortages could make it difficult to handle a surge in travellers, and experts have expressed concern that security guards are working exhausted or distracted.
