A directive from President Donald Trump ordering Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to “immediately pay” Transportation Security Administration officers could ease the severe security-line delays that have plagued major U.S. airports. The move comes amid a partial DHS shutdown that left TSA staff working without pay since Feb. 14 and prompted widespread call-outs and lane closures.
What happened
The administration used executive authority to provide pay after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement and prepared to leave for a two-week recess. Reports indicated officers would begin receiving pay on Friday. The decision was framed as an emergency response to restore airport operations.
How bad the delays have been
Airports have experienced some of the longest wait times in TSA history. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) were among the hardest hit, with travelers facing three- and four-hour backups on the worst days. Some checkpoints closed, and expedited programs such as Clear and TSA PreCheck were suspended at certain terminals. TSA warned that smaller airports could lose service if staffing continued to deteriorate.
TSA leadership perspective
Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill described the situation to Congress as “fluid, challenging and unpredictable.” Agency leaders said they have consolidated lanes to keep checkpoints open and may have to suspend operations at smaller airports without enough officers.
Will pay restore normal operations quickly?
Paying officers should reduce the incentive for call-outs, but it’s uncertain how fast operations will recover. One encouraging precedent: after a 43-day federal shutdown last fall, call-outs among air traffic controllers dropped immediately and flight operations improved rapidly once pay resumed. Whether TSA officers will return at the same pace is unclear.
Recovery is complicated by repeated disruptions. TSA staff have experienced two shutdown stretches exceeding 40 days since October, leaving many officers unpaid multiple times. That repeated strain may slow the return to normal staffing and operations. Officials also report attrition: roughly 480 TSA officers left their jobs since this partial shutdown began, and training replacements takes months.
Airlines and passenger guidance
Airlines have offered flexibilities while delays persisted. Delta issued waivers for customers at ATL and New York’s JFK; United offered waivers at its Houston hub; Allegiant expanded change and cancellation flexibility. Travelers should still plan for longer-than-normal lines, especially on peak travel days like Fridays and Sundays.
TSA app and communications
The TSA app, which normally shows live checkpoint wait times, has been unreliable during the shutdown because it has not been updated regularly. Even with pay restored, the agency’s technical and communications functions may lag while it remains technically affected by the shutdown. Passengers should check airport websites and social media for local updates and use airport-specific wait trackers when available.
The longer view
Restoring pay is likely to stabilize operations, but how quickly checkpoints return to normal depends on whether officers stop calling out, whether further departures can be prevented, and how fast the agency can refill and train staff. With major travel events and the summer surge on the horizon — including World Cup matches in the U.S. — there is concern about a convergence of high demand and thin staffing.
Bottom line
Paying TSA officers is an important step toward reducing delays, but travelers should remain prepared for disruptions in the near term. The speed of recovery will hinge on staff return rates, attrition recovery, and the agency’s ability to restore full services across the airport network.