25 TSA Officers Resign from Boston's Logan Airport During Shutdown

Unpaid work during partial government closure takes toll on transportation security staff.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:40am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Despite low sick call levels, 25 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Boston's Logan Airport have resigned from their jobs during the course of the partial government shutdown, according to the local union representing the officers. The shutdown has lasted for over a month, with Congress failing multiple times to pass a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA.

Why it matters

The resignations at Logan Airport highlight the strain the partial shutdown has placed on federal workers, even those considered essential personnel like TSA officers. While passengers have experienced minimal impacts so far, the loss of experienced staff could potentially lead to longer security lines and travel delays if the shutdown continues.

The details

On Friday, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2617 union, which represents TSA officers at Logan, reported that 25 of its members had resigned during the shutdown. Earlier that day, Congress failed for the seventh time to pass a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. However, President Trump later signed an executive order to grant TSA employees back pay using money from last year's GOP spending bill, though it's unclear if that will cover the full period they worked without paychecks.

  • The partial government shutdown has lasted over a month, since December 2025.
  • On March 28, 2026, Congress failed for the seventh time to pass a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Also on March 28, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order to grant TSA employees back pay.

The players

AFGE Local 2617

The union representing TSA officers at Boston's Logan Airport.

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States who signed an executive order to grant TSA employees back pay.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are hoping we won't have that issue here, but we can't be sure, so we arrived a bit early today.”

— Meriel Sanchez, Passenger

“We got there right when they opened the airport. We decided to be cautious and all. I was definitely a little anxious for sure.”

— Jane Brakefield, Passenger

What’s next

It remains to be seen how the loss of 25 experienced TSA officers will impact security wait times and operations at Boston's Logan Airport if the partial government shutdown continues. The back pay granted by President Trump's executive order may help retain remaining staff, but the long-term effects of the shutdown on federal workers are still unfolding.

The takeaway

The resignations of 25 TSA officers at Boston's Logan Airport during the partial government shutdown underscore the strain the closure has placed on federal workers, even those considered essential personnel. While passengers have experienced minimal impacts so far, the loss of experienced staff could potentially lead to longer security lines and travel delays if the shutdown drags on, raising concerns about the resilience of the nation's transportation security system.