Severe Storms, Limited Staff Force Long Wait Times At ATL Airport
By Amanda Lumpkin
Published on March 9, 2026.
The partial government shutdown, which is now in its 24th day, has resulted in long wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This comes as portions of Georgia are at a Level 2 slight risk for severe storms, with a brief tornado and 60 mph wind gusts possible from 6pm to 1am. The airport attributed these delays to residual impacts from Friday's ground stops and ongoing staff constraints. The shutdown is due to a disagreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, specifically for the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As of around 1:30 p.m., the main domestic checkpoint was 21 minutes and wait times for international passengers were 5 minutes.
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