US transport boss warns of historic airport delays amid government shutdown stalemate
A partial federal government shutdown on its 40th day has triggered record-breaking wait times at U.S. transportation security checkpoints, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) top official warning that airports may be forced to shut entirely if staffing shortages persist further into March.
Key Points
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1US airport passenger wait times have reached record highs during an ongoing partial government shutdown.
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2The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has warned that airports may be forced to shut down due to these extreme delays and staffing shortages.
Developments
US airports face potential shutdowns due to record security wait times exceeding 4.5 hours as nearly half of staff quit or call out because they cannot afford work paychecks following a funding deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over Department of Homeland Security operations. Concurrently, the Transportation Safety Administration's acting head reported an unprecedented surge in assaults on personnel amid passenger frustration during these delays.
US airports face potential shutdowns due to record security wait times exceeding 4.5 hours as nearly half of staff quit or call out because they cannot afford wages owed since mid-February, a situation attributed by the acting TSA head Ha Nguyen McNeill being driven home from not receiving pay for over two months and leading some workers into desperate measures like sleeping on duty at airports
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is facing record passenger wait times due to the government shutdown causing over 480 officers and more than one-third of staff at major airports like Houston, New York City, and Atlanta to be absent. TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill warned that some lines exceed four hours while smaller airport operations face potential closure if staffing shortages persist during this partial federal shut down period.
The TSA has reported that partial government shutdowns have caused air travelers to face record-long security wait times in U.S. transportation history. This announcement was made by the agency's top official regarding ongoing disruptions during this period of federal funding lapse.