Storms Disrupt Air Travel Across US as Shutdown Strains TSA Staffing

Hundreds of flights canceled or delayed as powerful storms sweep across the country and impact airports nationwide.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:15am

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Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed on Tuesday, one day after powerful storms swept across the eastern half of the United States and disrupted air travel in major cities. The travel disruptions come at a challenging time, as the ongoing partial government shutdown has strained staffing at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across the country.

Why it matters

The storms and shutdown-related staffing issues at TSA have combined to create significant travel headaches for passengers, with long security lines and hundreds of flight cancellations and delays reported at major airports. This highlights the broader impacts of the political gridlock in Washington on everyday Americans trying to travel.

The details

More than 550 flights scheduled to fly into, out of or within the U.S. were canceled as of early Tuesday, and over 460 were delayed, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. The disruptions were particularly severe at some of the nation's largest airports, including those in New York, Chicago and Atlanta. The storm system that dumped heavy snow across the Midwest raced toward the East Coast with the potential for high winds and tornadoes. Meanwhile, the partial government shutdown has strained TSA staffing, with more than 300 agents quitting since the start of the shutdown and longer security lines reported at some airports as a result.

  • On Monday, about 600 flights were canceled in and out of Chicago O'Hare International, more than 470 at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International and over 450 at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops at Hartsfield-Jackson and Charlotte Douglas International Airport and ground delays at JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday due to the severe weather.

The players

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

One of the busiest airports in the world, located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security screening at U.S. airports, which has been impacted by staffing shortages due to the partial government shutdown.

Kelly Price

A traveler trying to get home to Colorado after a family vacation in Orlando, Florida, who was stranded at the airport due to flight cancellations.

Danielle Cash

A traveler stranded in St. Louis while trying to get home to Tampa, Florida, after a weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Mel Stewart

A traveler who arrived four hours early for his flight out of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta due to longer TSA lines.

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What they’re saying

“By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we're all tired and frustrated.”

— Kelly Price, Traveler

“It was 80 degrees in Tampa when I left and then going to Vegas. And it was 90 degrees in the desert.”

— Danielle Cash, Traveler

“I think it's being politicized way too much — way too much. And these people are working. They work hard, and for TSA people not to get paid, that's silly.”

— Mel Stewart, Traveler

What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration is continuing to monitor the situation and may issue additional ground stops or delays as needed in response to the severe weather and its impacts on air travel.

The takeaway

The combination of powerful winter storms and the ongoing partial government shutdown has created a perfect storm for air travel disruptions, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed and long security lines at major airports. This highlights the broader societal impacts of political dysfunction in Washington and the importance of reliable air travel infrastructure for the economy and everyday Americans.