TSA Officers Work Without Pay as Government Shutdown Continues

Concerns mount over financial hardship and impact on airport security as federal workers miss paychecks

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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As the partial federal government shutdown continues, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are working without pay. While airport operations have not been significantly disrupted yet, labor leaders and federal officials warn of steep personal and professional consequences for TSA workers and other federal employees if the shutdown drags on.

Why it matters

The ongoing government shutdown is putting significant financial strain on federal workers, including TSA officers who are critical to maintaining airport security. There are concerns that missed paychecks could lead to staffing shortages, reduced morale, and potentially compromised security if workers are forced to take on second jobs or make difficult personal financial decisions.

The details

All three security checkpoints remained open at Baltimore's airport on Monday, with TSA PreCheck lines operating normally. However, many TSA agents are still recovering financially from last year's government shutdown, with some reportedly sleeping in their cars to save on gas or taking on second jobs. Federal officials have warned that the uncertainty of missing paychecks 'negatively impacts readiness and creates a significant financial hardship for service members and their families'.

  • The partial federal government shutdown began at midnight on Saturday, February 16, 2026.
  • The shutdown is ongoing, with no clear end in sight as lawmakers left Washington last week for a planned recess.

The players

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security screenings at U.S. airports, with over 61,000 officers currently working without pay due to the government shutdown.

Ha Nguyen McNeill

The acting TSA Administrator who testified before Congress last week about the financial hardship faced by TSA officers during the shutdown.

Vice Adm. Thomas Allan

The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, who warned that the 'uncertainty of missing paychecks negatively impacts readiness and creates a significant financial hardship for service members and their families'.

Andrew Cardozo

A representative of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1260, AFL-CIO, who expressed concerns about the personal and professional consequences for federal workers during the shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“Missed pay erodes the trust our men and women have in the nation they serve and those who lead them. The uncertainty of missing paychecks negatively impacts readiness and creates a significant financial hardship for service members and their families.”

— Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (WBAL-TV 11 News)

“People's lives and livelihoods are being played with here. For me, eventually, it's going to come down to, 'Do I put gas in the car to go to work for free?' Or, 'Do I put food on the table with that money for my kids?'”

— Andrew Cardozo, Representative, American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1260, AFL-CIO (WBAL-TV 11 News)

What’s next

Lawmakers are currently on a planned recess, with no clear timeline for when they may return to address the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on federal workers.

The takeaway

The continued government shutdown is putting significant financial strain on critical federal workers like TSA officers, raising concerns about the potential impact on airport security and the personal well-being of public servants who are being asked to work without pay. This situation underscores the need for policymakers to find a timely resolution to the budget impasse.