TSA Officers Miss First Full Paycheck as Airport Lines Grow

Fears mount about long delays and potential price hikes due to the partial government shutdown.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:40pm

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Employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, missed their first full paycheck on Friday due to the partial government shutdown. This has led to a rise in TSA officer call-outs, with nearly half of the officers at Houston's Hobby Airport calling out sick on March 8 and 9, causing over 3-hour delays. Airports have tried to calm fears about long lines, but the White House and Department of Homeland Security are blaming Democrats for the chaos. With no signs of a resolution, TSA officers are struggling to make ends meet, and airports are organizing food drives and asking the public for gift card donations to support them.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown is having a direct impact on airport operations, with TSA staffing shortages leading to significantly longer security lines. This raises concerns about the potential for further delays, disruptions, and even price hikes related to air travel as the shutdown continues. It also highlights the financial hardship faced by federal workers who are not receiving their full paychecks.

The details

About 50,000 TSA officers around the country missed their first full paycheck on Friday, after being paid only about a third of their salaries two weeks ago. This has led to a rise in TSA officer call-outs, with roughly half of the officers at Houston's Hobby Airport calling out sick on March 8 and 9, causing over 3-hour delays. Airports have tried to calm fears about long lines, but the White House and Department of Homeland Security are blaming Democrats for the chaos. TSA officers are taking second jobs and relying on food drives and gift card donations from the public to make ends meet.

  • On March 13, 2026, TSA officers missed their first full paycheck due to the partial government shutdown.
  • On March 8 and 9, 2026, roughly half of the TSA officers at Houston's Hobby Airport called out sick, leading to over 3-hour delays.

The players

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other agencies like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The agency responsible for airport security screenings, employing about 50,000 officers nationwide.

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has used ICE as a "secret police force" according to the article.

Democrats

The political party that has refused to sign off on DHS funding unless modest changes are made, including a ban on masks for most ICE agents.

Republican Party

The political party that has stood firm, refusing even the smallest changes that might rein in Trump's masked ICE agents.

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What’s next

There is no clear indication of when the partial government shutdown will be resolved, so the long airport security lines and financial hardship for TSA officers are expected to continue in the near future.

The takeaway

The partial government shutdown is having a direct and significant impact on air travel, with TSA staffing shortages leading to longer security lines and potential price hikes. This highlights the broader political gridlock and its real-world consequences for American travelers and federal workers.