Call for TSA Employee Pay Amidst Atlanta Airport Shutdown

Sat Mar 21 2026 19:01:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Travelers and industry insiders express concern as TSA workers go unpaid during a federal shutdown, leading to long wait times and increased airport anxiety.

As the federal shutdown persists, travelers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport are rallying for the payment of TSA employees. Lengthy security lines and missed flights are frustrating passengers who are arriving earlier than required. Industry figures highlight the necessity of funding for TSA to maintain airport security and ease the operational burden at one of the world's busiest airports while expressing concern over the impact of financial strain on agents and the potential for security gaps.

ATLANTA (AP) — Passengers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport voiced a unified call on Saturday: it’s time to pay the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.

The ongoing federal government shutdown is increasingly clogging TSA checkpoints, crucial for screening passengers and luggage for hazardous items. Amidst fears of missing their flights, many travelers are now arriving at the airport as much as four hours early.

For instance, Christian Childress, a private flight attendant, described the impact as a mixed experience. Although he does not navigate TSA lines on the job, he does so as a passenger. Issue No. 1 should be paying the people who need to get paid and keeping our air travel system secure, he remarked, while waiting for his flight to Nashville, Tennessee.

With TSA officers working unpaid since February 14 due to the shutdown, concerns about long airport lines have intensified. Following failed attempts to advance a funding bill, which had Democrats at odds over immigration changes, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer sought to present an alternative funding measure for just the TSA.

Passengers like Tyrone Williams criticized the ongoing shutdown, urging a quick resolution to allow TSA to operate effectively. President Donald Trump, in response, suggested that if Congress did not agree to fund TSA, he might deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the airports.

As wait times fluctuate drastically—soaring to 90 minutes before improving to 25 minutes—many TSA employees continue to work essential roles without pay. Union leaders highlight that financial distress has led to increased turnover, with 376 officers leaving since the onset of this shutdown alone. This is further complicating an agency that has historically struggled with job satisfaction and retention.

As tensions simmer between lawmakers, passengers remain concerned not only about their upcoming flights but about the broader implications for airport security during these tumultuous times.