TAMPA, Fla. — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he planned to sign an emergency order instructing the Deptartment of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA workers across the country.
What You Need To Know
Travelers have seen long lines at security checkpoints across the country, but not at Tampa International Airport
Groups like Feeding Tampa Bay and United Way Suncoast are among those he said are helping TSA workers to make sure they have access to the essentials
Airport passengers say they are grateful for the short wait times
TSA agents have been going without pay due to the partial DHS shutdown. That has led to nearly 500 agents quitting and thousands more taking time off everyday. As a result, travelers have seen long lines at security checkpoints across the country.
One place that didn’t see long security lines is Tampa International Airport.
“Fortunately, here at Tampa International Airport, we have not at this time been impacted by some of those extremely long lines. Right now, we’re looking at 10, 20-minute wait times,” TPA Communications Manager Beau Zimmer said Thursday.
“It was actually very quick. I think I got through, like, five minutes total,” said Bradenton resident Erin Herman, who was flying from Tampa to Kansas City.
Images of seemingly endless lines snaking through airports nationwide have been hard to miss in recent weeks. It’s why Herman said she arrived at TPA three and a half hours before her flight.
“They got my ID, did all the security walk throughs. It was actually the fastest I think I’ve been through security so far,” she said.
A number of airport passengers told Spectrum News that they are grateful for the short wait times. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)
TSA’S deputy administrator said Wednesday the agency was seeing the longest wait times in its history — more than four and a half hours for some passengers. At Tampa International Thursday, wait times were less than 20 minutes.
“Just concerned about time, but it was seamless,” said Sierra Hines, who was flying home to Albany, N.Y., following a cruise with family.
“The professional men and women for TSA are doing just a tremendous job. It really speaks to their professionalism and dedication,” Zimmer said.
According to Zimmer, the most time passengers have spent in line since the shutdown began is about 30 minutes. He told Spectrum News that having four different security checkpoints at the individual airside helps.
But Zimmer said as soon as the airport knew another partial government shutdown was approaching, it started reaching out to its community partners to get support lines up for TSA agents.
Groups like Feeding Tampa Bay and United Way Suncoast are among those he said are helping to make sure they have access to the essentials. Support arrived in other ways, too. Late Thursday afternoon, several boxes of pizza donated by Marco’s Pizza were wheeled away from the main terminal, headed to a TSA employee break room.
Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis
“The outpouring of community support has definitely been there,” said Zimmer. “We’re hearing from businesses. The airport, the airlines, we all want to try to support these TSA workers that are keeping this airport running, keeping our passengers being able to fly.”
Across the Bay at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Public Relations Director Michele Routh said that facility also turned to some of the same resources to help their agents. Routh said she picked up Walmart gift cards and gas cards from Metropolitan Ministries Thursday to help them with expenses.
“You’re paying either your mortgage, your rent, your utility bills, day care, you know – everything,” said Routh. “Without a paycheck, for many of us, you don’t know what you’re going to do.”
Back at Tampa International, passengers said that struggle is not lost on them.
“I give so much credit for these people working. It’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” said passenger Joanne Hines.