More airport disruptions expected as TSA agents quit amid first weekend without full pay
By Amanda Musa
Published on March 16, 2026.
Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are going without full pay, a month into the partial government shutdown, causing more travel disruptions as a winter storm hits the Midwest and spring break travelers try to fly. Over 300 TSA agents have quit, according to the Department of Homeland Security. This weekend, TSA workers missed their first full paycheck since mid-February due to a government dispute over federal immigration reform. Major airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, have urged Congress to restore DHS funding and a bipartisan solution to ensure federal aviation workers are paid during shutdowns. The callout rate for unscheduled absences by frontline officers has increased to an average of 6%, compared to about 2% before government funding lapsed. Some airports have begun asking travelers to assist the TSA officers.
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