Spring Break Travel Delays Persist at Airports Nationwide

TSA staffing shortages due to government shutdown cause chaos for travelers

Mar. 23, 2026 at 4:25am

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As spring break travel winds down, airports across the country are still dealing with heavy crowds and long security lines, amid the partial government shutdown. At DFW Airport, security wait times reached nearly 50 minutes on Sunday, and some travelers reported spending 3-4 hours getting through security at other major hubs. President Trump is now calling for ICE agents to be deployed at airports to assist TSA workers, but union representatives say they have no clearance on the agents' mission.

Why it matters

The travel delays caused by the TSA staffing shortages during the government shutdown have created a nationwide ripple effect, frustrating travelers and raising concerns about airport security and the impact of political disputes on critical public services.

The details

Since February 14th, TSA workers have continued to report to work without pay during the partial government shutdown. This has led to severe staffing shortages and long security lines at airports across the country. While DFW Airport didn't see the worst of the delays, travelers reported chaos and confusion at other major hubs like Atlanta, where some spent 3-4 hours just getting through security. North Texas mother Yara Sutton said her sons missed their flight in Atlanta because of the long lines and had to fly standby on a later flight.

  • On February 14th, TSA workers began reporting to work without pay during the partial government shutdown.
  • On Sunday, March 23rd, security wait times reached nearly 50 minutes at DFW Airport.

The players

Stephanie Flores

A traveler who flew back home to DFW from Atlanta and described the security lines as "really long" and "chaotic".

Adelaide Peters

A traveler who was part of a soccer team traveling from Atlanta and said the crowded space was "very overstimulating".

Andy Mahtani

A traveler who was visiting his daughter in Atlanta and said there was "a lot of confusion" and the TSA was "short-staffed" with "no one really to even explain what the process was".

Yara Sutton

A North Texas mother whose sons missed their flight in Atlanta because of the long security lines and had to fly standby on a later flight.

Johnny Jones

A representative of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees Union, who believes TSA workers are being used as "political pawns".

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What they’re saying

“It was really long, it was chaotic, honestly. I think all the staff was already overwhelmed with everything.”

— Stephanie Flores

“There were very long lines, like obviously it was just a bunch of crowded space, it was very overstimulating.”

— Adelaide Peters

“There was a lot of confusion. They were short-staffed; there was no one really to even explain what the process was.”

— Andy Mahtani

“The TSA issue has been a mess. I'm so frustrated. It was so, my head hurts. I'm so stressed out. It was a very stressful day today, just trying to get my kids back.”

— Yara Sutton, North Texas mother

“We don't have any clearance, we don't have no idea what their mission is going to be.”

— Johnny Jones, with the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees Union

What’s next

The administration said ICE officers will undergo some training between now and Monday to assist TSA workers, but union representatives say they have no clearance on the agents' mission.

The takeaway

The travel chaos caused by the TSA staffing shortages during the government shutdown highlights the broader impact of political disputes on critical public services, and the need for bipartisan solutions to ensure the smooth and secure operation of the nation's airports.