Travelers in the U.S. are facing long lines at airports during spring break. This is because security screeners are working without pay due to a government shutdown. The shutdown happened because congressional Democrats did not fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a fight over immigration policies.
Wait times at major airports like those in Houston and Atlanta reached up to two hours. Airports in New Orleans advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flights. In Philadelphia, some security checkpoints closed due to staff shortages. Over 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff have missed paychecks because of the shutdown.
On Saturday, President Trump suggested using immigration agents to help at airports if Congress does not fund the DHS quickly. He warned that workers are stressed and this could worsen delays. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there might be more closures of smaller airports.
Despite the issues, travel demand remains high. Around 171 million passengers are expected over March and April. Experts recommend passengers budget extra time and check airport websites for wait times. They also suggest having a backup plan in case flights are canceled.
