The Donald Trump administration has blamed Democrats for lengthy wait times at airports due to a partial government shutdown which has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers without pay.
Airports in Houston and New Orleans saw long lines on Sunday as travelers waited in line for hours at security checkpoints, with officials warning passengers to arrive hours early due to staff shortages.
The Department of Homeland Security described it on X on Sunday as “SPRING BREAK UNDER SIEGE” and said “Democrats must end this DHS shutdown NOW.”
Newsweek contacted DHS, TSA, and the Democratic Senate and House minority leaders via email on Monday, outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
A partial U.S. government shutdown began on February 14 after Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding for the DHS, amid a dispute between Democrats and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement policies. The partial government shutdown has stalled funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
What To Know
Democrats have been calling for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency under the DHS, including restrictions on agents wearing face masks, clearer identification requirements and tighter rules for obtaining warrants.
The partial shutdown means TSA workers are not being paid, but must continue working because they are classified as essential employees.
Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport were particularly badly affected by lengthy security lines on Sunday.
Photos and videos from inside the airports showed passengers lined up in long, winding lines, with some at Louis Armstrong International Airport stretching all the way through the parking lot.
Hobby Airport posted on X advising passengers to arrive four to five hours before their flight to allow for extra time for TSA screening.
Louis Armstrong International Airport said in a statement that passengers should arrive at least three hours before their flight due to longer-than-average lines caused by a shortage of TSA workers.
What People Are Saying
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement posted to TSA’s X account on Sunday: This chaos is a direct result of Democrats and their refusal to fund DHS. These political stunts force patriotic TSA officers, who protect our skies from serious threats, to work without pay.”
She added: “These frontline heroes received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, previously said about the partial government shutdown: “It’s very easy for them to get all of this funded. Simply agree to our commonsense proposals on ICE and Border Patrol.”
What Happens Next
The House last week passed a DHS funding bill on Thursday, but the measure still needs Senate approval.
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