Three-hour wait times. Missed flights. TSA lines stretching out the doors. Texas airports are starting to feel the pressure of the federal government shutdown, which is nearing the five-week mark. Several major airports have struggled with staffing issues as air traffic controllers and TSA agents are furloughed or working without pay while the government has ceased operations. 

“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,” a TSA spokesperson said to USA Today.

Lines for TSA stretched out the door yesterday and early this morning at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airport’s website stated in an alert that only two out of its five terminals are open for TSA screening due to the government shutdown.

“At times, TSA wait times may extend beyond 3 hours,” the website read.

Many took to social media in frustration over the long lines.

“My son is going to miss his flight back to college from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston because the lines to check in are backed up for HOURS,” user LanceZierlein wrote on X.

“I’ve been in line 3 hours and not even past the actual security entrance,” user edpettittmph wrote.

“If you’re flying out of the Houston airport, allow 6 hours to go through security. I am not kidding. I saw people today who waited more than 3 hours and still hadn’t gotten to the front of the line,” user JennRHubbard wrote.

Other users expressed their gratitude for the workers who did show up to the airports.

“Kudos to all the TSA agents who are showing up to work without pay. You guys and gals are American heroes!” user Chusidel wrote on X.

Jim Szczesniak, the director of aviation for Houston Airports, released a statement on behalf of Bush Airport on Sunday.

“The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, and Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keeping passengers moving safely and efficiently,” Szczensniak said.

The Austin-Bergtrom International Airport also faced delays. A temporary pause on inbound and outbound flights was issued Sunday due to air traffic control staffing constraints, according to the Austin-American Statesman.

Travelers at the Dallas-Fort Worth International airport are also feeling delays, with over 10,000 flights delayed and nearly 400 cancelled so far Monday. The airport saw two ground delays last week, according to the Dallas Morning News.

“I’ve found hell on earth and it is Dallas-Fort Worth airport,” user TallDarkAwkward wrote on X.

The delays at airports nationwide come after air traffic controllers and TSA workers missed their paychecks late last monthThursday, Oct. 30, according to Forbes. 

One Houston TSA worker, according to KPRC, was facing eviction after the lost paychecks left him unable to pay his rent. He was only able to avoid homelessness after sympathetic viewers pitched in with donations.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, told Forbes that she thinks the ensuing stress on the air transportation system from workers not showing up will prompt lawmakers to end the government shutdown.

“We know what happens when the planes stop,” Nelson said. “We see the impact of the shutdown there the most. Some people don’t get medicine. The economy stops. The country stops. We will see the shutdown impact that, as early as this weekend or early next week.”

The pressure on lawmakers by airlines is mounting. Last week, United, Delta, American, and Southwest airlines threw their support behind a “continuing resolution, a Republican-backed measure that would fund the government through Nov. 21 and not address Democrats’ concerns over rising healthcare costs under the Affordable Care Act, according to USA Today.

A bill to pay air traffic controllers and TSA workers during the shutdown was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz on Oct. 22, and an accompanying bill in the House was introduced last week. Neither have been voted on yet.

During the last government shutdown in 2019, flight delays due to staffing issues led the 35-day shutdown to come to a close, according to USA Today.

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