Travelers should arrive early at airports and brace for delays at security lines as a federal impasse on funding for the Department of Homeland Security enters its third week.
Delays at New York airports were minimal Monday, including at Kennedy, LaGuardia and Long Island MacArthur in Ronkonkoma. But experts and federal officials warned delays could increase as long as the funding shutdown continues.
And slowdowns could especially affect those coming through smaller airports, where there may be fewer Transportation Security Administration agents available. The partial government shutdown has meant TSA agents, who are working with partial pay, won’t get a full paycheck as of Saturday.
Delays of more than three hours were reported over the weekend at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans and at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, where travelers were warned to arrive at least four hours early for flights due to fewer TSA screeners available for various shifts.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUNDTravelers should arrive early at airports and brace for delays at security lines as a federal impasse on funding for the Department of Homeland Security enters its third week.Delays could increase as long as the funding shutdown continues, especially at smaller airports where there may be fewer Transportation Security Administration agents available.The shutdown impasse took place after congressional Democrats held up funding DHS, demanding reforms in federal immigration agents’ tactics.
At Kennedy Airport on Monday, security was reporting wait times of between 10 and 40 minutes, with the longest wait times in Terminal 4. At LaGuardia, most wait times were less than 20 minutes.
Long Island MacArthur Airport reported no disruptions as a result of the funding lapse and wait times of less than 15 minutes.
By 1 p.m. at Kennedy’s Terminal 5, the security line appeared to be standard, with passengers filling less than half the line dividers.
While many passengers may not yet face significant delays at major airports in New York, delays could compound while traveling back through smaller airports around the country, said Philip Mann, an aviation expert and adjunct professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“The TSA has to make sure they don’t compromise security first and are providing a smooth and best service second,” Mann said. “It will vary from airport, with the last airports the last to see significant delays. By the time Kennedy is affected, any smaller airports might see 3 hour lines first and it might cut their ability to process lines in half.”
Husband and wife Kajanna McCenzie, 32, and Josiah Martin, 34, of Philadelphia, said they were about two hours early for their connecting flight to Guyana at Kennedy on Monday afternoon.
Travelers Kajanna McCenzie, 32, of Philadelphia, with her husband, Josiah Martin, 34, at Kennedy Airport Monday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Both were unaware the partial shutdown was ongoing but were grateful they had ample time to go through security. They said they hoped the shutdown is resolved before they return home from a week of visiting family.
“If that were the case, it’s pretty upsetting, but it’s unfortunate that they have to come to work and not get paid,” McCenzie said of the TSA workers. “It impacts their lives and their families.”
At LaGuardia on Monday, Rita Zarzuela, 55, of Orlando, Florida, said she was concerned about getting back home to take care of her cleaning business after her 12:30 p.m. Frontier flight was delayed 45 minutes.
She said she wasn’t aware of the shutdown when she came to New York to visit family, but she was anxious about how it may affect her flight.
“It’s concerning because there’s a lot of different problems,” Zarzuela said.
It is the second funding shutdown for TSA agents in six months, following the full government shutdown last year. TSA agents are considered essential workers required to report to work, and are working with partial pay. They will miss their first full paycheck this week but have the option to call out sick.
“Until funding is restored, all travelers should expect a process that does not sacrifice security,” the TSA said about the funding lapse.
Congressional Democrats have blocked DHS funding since Feb. 22, refusing to fund the department until restrictions on federal agents are made in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following two fatal shootings in Minnesota amid aggressive tactics in the Trump administration’s deportation program.
Republicans blocked a separate bill from Senate Democrats to pay TSA workers and fund the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency, while excluding ICE and Border Patrol.
In a statement, the TSA blamed Democrats for the funding lapse. The TSA said it would end courtesy escorts through airports, but maintain TSA PreCheck security. Officials warned agents may have to divert agents from PreCheck screening if certain airports face staffing shortages.
“These front line heroes received only partial paychecks earlier this month and now face their first full missed paycheck, leading to financial hardship, absences, and crippling staffing shortages,” the TSA said in a statement.
The TSA agents union, AFGE TSA Council 100, could not be reached for comment Monday.