Long Waits at Some Airports as DHS Shutdown Impacts Security

Travelers face hours-long delays at checkpoints in Houston and New Orleans due to TSA staffing shortages

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Travelers complained of long wait times, in some cases lasting hours, at security checkpoints at airports in Houston and New Orleans on Sunday. Officials blamed the delays on the ongoing partial government shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has impacted staffing levels for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Why it matters

The delays come during peak spring break travel season and highlight the impact the DHS shutdown is having on critical transportation infrastructure. Airlines have warned that the political impasse is jeopardizing public safety and convenience for millions of passengers.

The details

At Houston's William P. Hobby Airport, the wait time at the standard security checkpoint reached 3 hours at one point on Sunday evening. The airport urged travelers to arrive 4-5 hours early to allow extra time for screening. Similar delays were reported at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where the airport warned of wait times up to 2 hours due to a shortage of TSA agents.

  • On Sunday, March 9, 2026, travelers faced long security lines at airports in Houston and New Orleans.
  • The DHS shutdown began on February 14, 2026.

The players

Houston Airports

The organization that operates William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

The main airport serving the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security screening at U.S. airports, which has been impacted by the DHS shutdown.

Airlines for America

A trade group representing major U.S. airlines, which has urged Congress and the administration to resolve the DHS shutdown.

Jessica Andersen Alexie

A traveler caught in the long security lines at Hobby Airport in Houston while trying to return home to New Orleans.

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What they’re saying

“We are in spring break travel season and expecting record numbers of people to take to the skies. Airlines have done their part to prepare; now Congress and the administration must act with urgency to reach a deal that reopens DHS and ends this shutdown.”

— Chris Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America (Associated Press)

“It was nuts. It was crazy.”

— Jessica Andersen Alexie (Associated Press)

What’s next

Congress and the Trump administration are expected to continue negotiations to end the DHS shutdown, which is impacting airport security operations across the country.

The takeaway

The DHS shutdown is causing significant disruptions to air travel during a busy spring break season, underscoring the need for a swift resolution to the political impasse in order to ensure public safety and convenience for millions of passengers.