TSA Line Delays: When Will Normalcy Return? Travelers Brace for Extended Wait Times

With the partial government shutdown easing, Transportation Security Administration officers are set to regain their pay starting Monday. However, travelers may still face prolonged delays at airport security checkpoints, according to experts. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, mandating that TSA personnel be compensated despite the more than a month of unpaid work during the shutdown. This directive aims to address the 40-day gap in wages, but it might not immediately resolve the staffing issues plaguing the agency.

Former TSA Administrator John S. Pistole noted that the pay restoration is a “temporary fix,” as he explained to NBC News. The critical factor, he emphasized, is whether a sufficient number of workers return to their posts after the resumption of paychecks on Monday, March 30. The Department of Homeland Security reported that over 500 officers have left their roles during the shutdown, while thousands more have taken unpaid leave due to financial constraints.

“How many of them come back after they get this paycheck? Or maybe they already have another full-time job lined up, they’re just waiting to inform TSA after they get their check on Monday,” Pistole said.

TSA’s callout rate reached 12.35% of its workforce on Friday, impacting more than 3,560 employees, according to a DHS spokesperson. The agency is now working to reinstate staff under Trump’s guidance and the leadership of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Despite these efforts, the return of workers remains uncertain, as some may have secured other employment opportunities.

Pistole warned that the uncertainty, combined with TSA’s usual annual turnover rate of about 7%, could prolong delays even after pay resumes. “It really depends on that asterisk of how many people show up,” he added. Until staffing levels stabilize, travelers may need to consider alternatives like road, rail, or bus transportation to avoid the risk of extended waits at airports.

Mirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical, and consumer issues.