This comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that airport delays could worsen as the shutdown drags on.
HOUSTON — Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport saw long TSA lines early Thursday morning as the government shutdown continues.
This comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that airport delays could worsen as the shutdown drags on.
The long lines early Thursday morning have since cleared.
KHOU 11 reached out to the TSA to see how the shutdown is impacting air travel.
“While the vast majority of TSA’s nationwide operations remain minimally impacted by the government shutdown, occasional delays at some security checkpoints are to be expected. The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce who have expenses they must pay for, making it harder to show up for work when not being paid. We kindly ask for the public’s patience and understanding as our officers are forced to work unpaid at this time. Despite this challenge, TSA will remain vigilant and focused on performing our vital security mission on behalf of the American people.”
A photo taken by KHOU 11 meteorologist Pat Cavlin early Thursday morning showed the TSA line nearly fully looped around the departures area in Bush Airport’s Terminal A.
When KHOU 11 checked the airport out on Tuesday, arrivals were under a ground stop due to the government shutdown and staffing issues.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in on the shutdown’s impacts on air travel.
“I don’t know if this will continue another day, another week, another month. We could be sitting here at Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the year, with air traffic controllers still not being paid and delays for the public. That is a terrible outcome,” Cruz said. “I filed legislation to pay the air traffic controllers, pay TSA, pay the essential air personnel, but we’ll see.”
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