HOUSTON – As a result of the federal government shutdown, officials tell us travelers may experience longer-than-normal wait times at airport security in Houston.
This was evident Sunday morning when KPRC 2 News reporter Gage Goulding was traveling through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport.
The partial shutdown began on Feb. 14 after lawmakers reached an impasse over funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The standstill comes amid the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations.
Many DHS employees, including those in agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have been working without pay for more than two weeks.
Federal law grants back pay to affected employees, but only once the shutdown lifts – and lawmakers have given no clear indication when the standstill will end.
Airport staff told Goulding that TSA is dealing with a staff shortage due to call-outs at Hobby. KPRC 2 News has reached out to TSA officials for more information on these claims.
In a statement to KPRC 2 News, the Houston Airports System said:
Due to the federal government shutdown, passengers may experience longer-than-normal wait times at TSA security checkpoints.
We encourage travelers to arrive early and allow additional time for screening.
Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for the Houston AirportsBreaking News Alerts
More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.