TSA Wait Times Improve Across Major Airports

Security lines under 10 minutes at some of the hardest-hit hubs as TSA staffing recovers

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A bold, geometric illustration depicting the towering architecture of an airport terminal, with smooth airbrushed gradients in shades of blue and gray creating a sense of scale and movement. The image captures the romance and monumentality of modern travel without any literal depiction of people or text.As airport security lines return to more typical levels, the grand scale and streamlined design of modern travel hubs comes into focus.New Orleans Today

Airport security wait times have improved significantly in recent weeks, with major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston reporting wait times under 10 minutes. This turnaround comes after a period of severe staffing shortages due to the partial government shutdown, which led to thousands of TSA officers calling out and causing lengthy lines at many airports. Callout rates have dropped more than 43% since President Trump's order to restore TSA employee pay, though they remain above pre-shutdown levels at some airports.

Why it matters

Lengthy airport security lines have been a major source of frustration for travelers in recent months, with some facing waits of several hours. The improvement in wait times is a relief for passengers and indicates the TSA is recovering from the staffing crisis caused by the government shutdown.

The details

Two of the hardest-hit airports — Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston — reported security wait times under 10 minutes as of midday Friday. Conditions have also improved at New York City's three main airports, with most terminals showing general security waits under 15 minutes. However, JFK's Terminal 5 still had 40-minute lines as New York City public schools kicked off spring break. Callout rates have fallen more than 43% since President Trump's order to restore TSA employee pay, though they remain above the 4% pre-shutdown norm at some airports like JFK, where the rate was 18% on Thursday.

  • As of midday Friday, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston reported security wait times under 10 minutes.
  • New York City's three main airports — JFK, LaGuardia and Newark — are once again posting wait times online after temporarily suspending that data.
  • Callout rates have fallen more than 43% since President Trump's March 28 order restoring pay for TSA employees.
  • As of Thursday, the TSA callout rate was 6.95%, down from a recent peak of 12.35% on March 27.
  • At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, the callout rate fell from around 40% last week to roughly 15% on Thursday.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who issued an order on March 28 to restore pay for TSA employees during the partial government shutdown.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that provided data on the drop in TSA callout rates since President Trump's order.

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What they’re saying

“Callouts have fallen more than 43% since President Donald Trump's March 28 order restoring pay for TSA employees.”

— Department of Homeland Security

What’s next

Airport officials warn that TSA staffing levels and security wait times may continue to fluctuate as the partial government shutdown remains unresolved.

The takeaway

The improvement in airport security wait times is a welcome relief for travelers, but the situation remains fragile as the TSA workforce continues to recover from the staffing crisis caused by the government shutdown. Passengers are advised to check real-time wait times before heading to the airport.