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News
TSA wait times hit 3 hours Monday as partial government shutdown drags on
Featured image by MARK FELIX/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
March 9, 2026 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Airport security wait times have significantly increased at major U.S. hubs due to a partial government shutdown impacting staffing levels.
Travelers faced delays of up to three hours at airports like Houston Hobby, with similar disruptions reported in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte.
TSA PreCheck lanes remained operational and much faster than standard lines, while Global Entry was suspended, forcing returning international travelers into regular customs queues.
Travelers are advised to arrive at airports earlier than usual, monitor wait times via airport-specific resources and follow airports on social media for real-time updates.
What to consider
TSA PreCheck continues to operate, offering shorter wait times, but Global Entry remains unavailable during the shutdown.
The MyTSA app may not provide reliable wait time information; check individual airport websites or social media for updates.
The duration and extent of delays depend on how long the government shutdown continues.
What you'll miss from the article
Tips for navigating airport security more efficiently during a government shutdown, including how to leverage expedited screening programs and alternative wait time monitoring tools.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Airport security wait times have soared at busy hubs across the country in recent days as the ongoing partial government shutdown surpassed three weeks this weekend.
Transportation Security Administration queues improved somewhat on Monday after a chaotic weekend. But it was hardly a breeze for travelers departing on family vacations amid the spring break rush.
Security lines snaked for a second straight day at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) on Monday, with wait times topping three hours by late morning. Travelers encountered similar situations over the weekend from Atlanta to New Orleans to Charlotte. Short staffing led the TSA to close some lanes and slow down processing in others, fueling hourslong backups and snarled passenger traffic in airport terminals.
In some cases, the delays caused travelers to miss their flights on Sunday — the busiest day for air travel in the U.S. since the tail end of the holiday rush in early January.
A TSA line on Sunday at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). BRETT COOMER/HOUSTON CHRONICLE/GETTY IMAGES
Biggest TSA disruption since partial shutdown began
This latest airport security crunch came as the partial government shutdown affecting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (which oversees the TSA) entered its fourth week.
TSA officers are essential federal employees and are expected to continue reporting to work during a shutdown — but without a paycheck. Those officers went more than a month without pay during the much larger government shutdown last fall.
Until this past weekend, we had not seen major airport security disruptions as a result of the current shutdown. But heading into the weekend, aviation leaders warned travelers that they could run into a frustrating situation at checkpoints if the partial federal shutdown dragged on much longer.
MARK FELIX/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
"People should be prepared as this drags out for longer lines," Todd Hauptli, CEO of the American Association of Airport Executives, had said at a news conference last week. "You’re going to have to pack your patience if you’re going to the airport."
That prediction rang true with major delays at some of the nation's busiest hubs, including Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). TPG's Summer Hull captured a photo of snaking lines as she departed IAH on a family trip.
TSA lines on Sunday at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry: What to know
Despite the latest security slowdown, TSA PreCheck remained operational. This is notable because on Feb. 22, the Trump administration reportedly considered shuttering the fast-tracked lanes — before reversing course.
In fact, PreCheck remains a huge time-saver for passengers with access. At one point on Monday, HOU showed standard security wait times hovered at 180 minutes. The TSA PreCheck average wait? 10 minutes.
Average wait times on Monday at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM
Global Entry remains shuttered
However, Global Entry remained shut down at airports across the country on Sunday, weeks after the DHS did move forward with suspending that expedited passport control program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
This means travelers returning home to the U.S. from abroad can expect to wait in the standard customs lanes, unless they can access a separate shortcut option such as Mobile Passport Control.
What to know about the TSA this week
If you’re planning to fly in the coming days, here's how to prepare for your trip to the airport.
Get to the airport earlier than usual
For starters, I’d certainly plan to arrive at the airport a good 30 minutes (at a minimum) earlier than you normally would. Get there even earlier if you don’t have access to a program that expedites your trip through security like TSA PreCheck or Clear.
“The best advice we can share with travelers is simple: plan ahead, arrive early and stay in communication with your airline,” Jim Szczesniak, the Houston Airport System's director of aviation, said in a statement late Sunday.
Check if you can monitor wait times — but not via the TSA's app
Normally, we recommend using the MyTSA app to monitor wait times in real time. Unfortunately, that app is not reliable during a shutdown, when many nonessential services at DHS and the TSA are temporarily shuttered.
Instead, check whether the individual airport you're flying from offers real-time TSA line monitoring.
For instance, I was able to check the wait times at each checkpoint on Monday on a webpage run by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the nation's second-busiest.
TSA wait times Monday at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). DALLAS FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A similar service at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Monday showed TSA lines of no more than 30 minutes — far better than what travelers encountered Sunday.
TSA wait times on Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Follow your airport on social media
Also, be sure to follow your airport on social media. The major hubs most affected by the weekend’s TSA delays have been posting updates and advice for travelers. These updates are giving flyers a sense of how early to get to the terminal.
Plus, don’t forget: If you have TSA PreCheck access (including via Global Entry), you should be eligible to use the TSA’s TSA PreCheck Touchless ID program, which is among the fastest ways to get through airport security on a normal day.
How long will the TSA delays last, and how many airports will they affect? That all hinges on how long the federal shutdown lasts. The uncertainty is prompting leaders across the aviation and travel sectors to criticize lawmakers in Washington, D.C., who remain stuck in a stalemate.
“As TSA officers are facing a $0 paycheck this week, we are seeing firsthand the significant strains that the current DHS shutdown is causing across the aviation system,” Chris Sununu, CEO of the airline trade group Airlines for America (and former governor of New Hampshire), said in a statement Sunday evening.
“The shutdown is having very real consequences, and hardworking federal aviation workers, the airline industry and our passengers are being used as a political football once again,” Sununu added. “This is simply unacceptable.”
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
