SAN ANTONIO — SAN ANTONIO – Traveling soon? You may want to give yourself more time than usual to get through security.
Travelers passing through San Antonio International Airport during one of the busiest spring travel weekends were being urged to stay alert for potential delays as many TSA security workers missed their first full paycheck while continuing to work without pay because Congress has not funded the Department of Homeland Security.
At the airport, the Rapid Relief Team provided free burgers and other lunch items to TSA employees as a show of support during the partial government shutdown. Nearly 200 TSA agents at the airport received meals.
“It’s a pretty typical meal on just a hundred percent beef burger, and we got lots of condiments to go with it, whatever they would like,” Aaron Holt said. “We’ve got some chips for the side, drinks, water, Gatorade, whatever to make their complete lunch.”
Holt said the effort was meant as a small gesture for workers going without pay.
“We’re not able to pay them the paycheck they’re missing out on, but just to give them a hot meal…” Holt said.
Airports across the country have started to see issues. In Austin, security lines stretched outside the terminal, and travelers were urged to arrive earlier than usual to avoid problems.
“Being here way early just to make sure we get on the flight and get our bags checked in and all of that going through TSA,” a traveler said in a CNN video.
In San Antonio, there had not been major issues so far, but concerns remained that could change if frustration grows among TSA agents who have not been getting paid and decide to stop showing up until funding is restored.
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Rapid Relief Team members said they plan to continue offering support as long as the government shutdown continues.