Long TSA Lines Drop at US Airports as Agents Get Paid

Lines at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, have dramatically decreased since Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents started receiving paychecks. Last week, passengers were warned of up to four-hour wait times, but on Tuesday, the wait times were listed as less than five minutes at all checkpoints. Similar improvements were seen at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, and Baltimore airport.

The recent chaos at airports was largely due to staffing shortages caused by the partial government shutdown, which began in mid-February. TSA agents had not been paid since then, leading to a high number of call-outs and long wait times for travelers. However, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to pay TSA agents, many have returned to work. This has resulted in a significant improvement in wait times for passengers.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which is also Delta Air Lines’ main hub, faced particularly long lines due to its high passenger traffic. However, the airport thanked passengers for their patience and encouraged them to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Similarly, Baltimore airport, which handles around 25 million passengers annually, saw a “return to normal” on Monday.

While the Senate approved a deal to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, it was met with opposition from House Republicans who want more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Democrats, on the other hand, are calling for ICE to be reformed in light of recent violence in Minnesota. With Congress currently on recess for two weeks and the two parties still at odds, the shutdown continues. However, TSA agents have started receiving paychecks, bringing some relief to travelers.