Calls for TSA Employee Pay Amid Airport Delays in Atlanta

Sat Mar 21 2026 19:04:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As the government shutdown continues, passengers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport express frustration over lengthy TSA wait times and demand that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees receive their paychecks.

On a busy Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, travelers voiced their concerns about long TSA wait times exacerbated by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Many arrived as much as four hours early for their flights, fearing delays. The TSA workers, who have been working without pay since the shutdown began on February 14, are facing significant pressure, with reports of increased absenteeism and turnover among staff. As discussions continue in Congress over funding, passengers urge for a resolution to ensure airport safety and security.

ATLANTA (AP) — Amid mounting frustration, travelers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport united over a shared demand: pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees promptly. Currently facing delays at security checkpoints, passengers are arriving up to four hours early for their flights, anxious about the possibility of missing them due to lengthy wait times.

Christian Childress, a private flight attendant, emphasized the pressing need to address compensation for TSA employees while discussing the impact of the government shutdown. Issue No. 1 should be paying the people who need to get paid and keeping our air travel system secure, he stated, while on his way to Nashville for a leisure trip.

The TSA officers have gone without pay since February 14, when the federal government partially shut down. This political impasse has led to rising concerns about security due to understaffing, with long lines becoming a common sight. Reports estimate that TSA wait times peaked at 90 minutes before easing to 25 minutes as the day progressed.

Passengers like Tyrone Williams, a retiree from Ellenwood, Georgia, called for a resolution to the ongoing shutdown, stating, I think the Democrats are holding everything up because they can’t get their way. In the realm of airport security, such controversies have heightened tension, coinciding with President Trump's threats to involve federal immigration officers in airport security if an agreement isn't made.

Despite the chaos, TSA officers continue to work, and most are considered essential personnel. As the shutdown persists, morale among TSA staff is declining, reflecting a troubling trend of absenteeism and turnover among the agency's ranks.

Jackie Donahue, a nurse returning from a European cruise, voiced support for the TSA workforce, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their sacrifices: We need to thank the people that are here. With nearly half of the past 171 days suffering from delayed paychecks due to political disputes, the TSA faces significant turnover challenges, further complicating the situation at one of the busiest airports in the world.

As Congress remains at an impasse over funding, both travelers and airport employees await a resolution.