TSA Callouts Increasing as Government Shutdown Rolls On

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) experienced a 10 percent callout on Sunday, more than triple the 3.1 percent rate it had the same day one year ago, as officers struggle with missed paychecks because of the ongoing partial government shutdown.

According to the TSA, "Many employees are reporting that they are not able to report to work due to financial limitations” as the shutdown hits its fifth week.

To deal with the callouts, the TSA is continuing to consolidate its manpower at screening lanes across the county by shutting down some checkpoints that are understaffed. On Sunday, the TSA closed Checkpoint A at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after doing the same at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last week.

Though wait times are longer than normal, the TSA said in a statement, most passengers across the country still saw waits in the normal range of 30 minutes for regular lanes and 10 minutes for Precheck lanes.

The TSA is recommending all passengers headed to the airport arrive early and check with their airport and airline before arrival. It is also updating the situation each morning on its social media pages.

“Every day, TSA officers continue to demonstrate great resilience and dedication as they report for duty, ensuring travelers get to their destinations safely. Public support from passengers, industry groups, and community organizations underscores the importance of TSA’s work in securing aviation,” the TSA wrote in a statement.