The wait times at airport security checkpoints have become a guessing game during the shutdown of a single U.S. government department. Absences among Transportation Security Administration officers are a major factor in determining whether lines move quickly or stretch far outside terminals.
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Experts warn the strategy could backfireFlorida hospital sues to evict a patient who won't leave room 5 months after dischargeGeorgia was going to dump voting machines that Trump hates until things got complicatedPistons guard Cade Cunningham has collapsed lung, will be evaluated in 2 weeksCable news network MS NOW shuffles schedule, moving Stephanie Ruhle and Alicia Menendez to daytimeBrent crude briefly tops $119 per barrel before pulling back, and stocks sink worldwideViral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animalsDo you really need a water filter? Here's what experts sayAfter an Iranian drone strike, a photographer captures this quiet human momentMore than 150,000 uncounted COVID-19 deaths occurred early in the pandemic, a study findsStair climbers love their exercise, even when security guards act like they're up to somethingTrump administration widens Medicaid fraud crackdown to Florida, calling it a 'hotspot'Callers to Washington state hotline press 2 for Spanish and get accented AI English insteadHere’s what dermatologists are saying about your skin care routine: Keep it simpleVatican appeals court declares mistrial in the 'trial of the century' against a cardinalIrán intensifica ataques a recintos de energía; Netanyahu dice que ya no puede enriquecer uranioPassengers are directed through a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers are directed through security checkpoint lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers are directed through a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers are directed through a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers are directed through security checkpoint lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers are directed through security checkpoint lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. Passengers wait in a long security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Houston. at airport security checkpoints have become a guessing game during the shutdown of a single U.S. government department, with the daily attendance of Transportation Security Administration officers determining whether lines move quickly or stretch far outside terminals. Travelers at Houston’s largest airport endured hourslong waits Thursday morning due to staffing issues, causing some to miss their flights or to have to scramble to their gates. But at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which saw some of the country’s longest security lines on Wednesday, officials reported largely moderate-to-low wait times, though one checkpoint was closed due to low staffing. Experts said it’s hard to predict where the lines will be the longest at any given time because much of the problem stems from TSA personnel not showing up for their shifts. The roughly 50,000 federal workers who screen passengers and bags have been The shutdown is the third affecting TSA workers since the fall. Growing financial strain makes it harder for them to afford basics, like gas or childcare, while continuing to report for work, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents most airport security screeners.“This is a very unfortunate situation and an extreme situation, and one that has been dragging on far too long, and is only likely to get worse,” said Eric Rosen, director of travel content for the travel and finance site The Points Guy. Rosen urged travelers to check security line wait times at their specific airport, either on the airport’s website or via its social media feeds. Some airports also specify which security checkpoints are open and closed, he said. That’s useful information for the vast majority of travelers who are using the regular security lanes, he said. But given the current situation, programs that let people skip ahead can be hugely valuable. For example, when wait times hit three hours in Houston recently, getting through the TSA PreCheck line took 10 minutes, Rosen said. “It can cut down wait times even during the best times when things are flowing smoothly, but right now we’re seeing the true value of that,” he said. Another option for shortening wait times is Clear+, a paid membership that allows users to bypass the line for getting their identities and boarding passes verified and to move directly to bag screening. The company declined to say whether it has seen an increase in members in the last month. But traveler Sara Oberton said Thursday that she and fellow Houston passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal E were all funneled into one line, regardless of whether they had Clear+ or TSA PreCheck. An airport spokesperson declined to confirm specifics, saying only that the number of available TSA screening lanes can vary based on staffing levels. Oberton, a fashion blogger, said it took her three hours to get through the line, causing her to miss her flight to Los Angeles.Rosen, from The Points Guy, also had some advice for those who arrive at the airport hours before their flights but still find themselves in danger of missing them: Ask an airline representative if you can cut the line. “I know it’s a little cringe and I know it’s a little uncomfortable,” he said. “But it’s not like showing up 20 minutes before your flight and expecting just to breeze through.” That said, airlines aren’t required to help passengers who are stranded because of the TSA staffing woes.Rico is a U.S. Desk editor and reporter based in Atlanta for The Associated Press. He has covered housing, immigration and activism in the South.Yamat is a national business reporter for The Associated Press. Based in Las Vegas, she covers airlines, travel and tourism.
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