ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS12) — More than a month into the partial federal government shutdown, ripple effects are being felt sharply at airports nationwide, including in Florida.
With thousands of Transportation Security Administration employees working without pay, sick calls and staff shortages continue to grow, creating long lines and inconsistent screening times at major hubs like Orlando International Airport.
On March 23, 2026, federal officials confirmed that ICE agents are being deployed to help unpaid and increasingly short‑staffed TSA workers at major airports — including Orlando International in Florida — to manage growing security line delays caused by the prolonged partial government shutdown. (CNN Newsource)
Travelers flying through Orlando have reported unusually long waits at security checkpoints in recent weeks, as staffing challenges compound the airport’s already heavy passenger volume. Footage from WESH shows lines stretching deep into terminal corridors, with passengers arriving earlier than usual to avoid congestion caused by the ongoing stalemate in Washington.
Federal officials are now taking an unprecedented step to help stabilize airport operations. Beginning this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be temporarily deployed to several of the nation’s busiest airports to assist TSA. The move, confirmed by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, places ICE agents under the direction of White House border adviser Tom Homan as they help manage passenger flow.
While the deployment begins in Atlanta, the impact is expected to be felt nationally — including in Florida — as airports coordinate with federal agencies to fill staffing gaps.
Orlando International is among several major travel hubs identified as experiencing significant wait-time disruptions tied to the shutdown. Travelers and airport workers interviewed by local Florida outlets describe the situation as unpredictable, with screening times fluctuating dramatically from day to day.
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Nationwide, major airports, including JFK in New York and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, are reporting similar issues. Some airports — including Atlanta — have even stopped posting estimated wait times because staffing levels vary too widely to guarantee accuracy.
As Florida’s spring travel season begins to build, the ongoing shortage raises questions about how long airports can maintain operations without a full federal workforce. For now, passengers are being urged to arrive early, stay patient, and prepare for longer-than-normal waits as federal employees continue to work without pay.
Federal leaders say ICE support is a stopgap measure intended to keep security lines moving until the shutdown ends. But for Florida travelers caught in the middle of a political funding impasse, the solution can’t come soon enough.