When will TSA lines go back to normal? Travelers may face delays for days or weeks

When will TSA lines go back to normal? Travelers may face delays for days or weeks

Despite the resumption of pay for Transportation Security Administration officers starting Monday, many travelers remain concerned about prolonged security delays. The partial government shutdown, which lasted over a month, disrupted operations at airports nationwide, leaving staff without wages during that time. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to ensure TSA workers received their salaries, ending a 40-day period of unpaid work. However, experts suggest this action might not swiftly resolve the backlog at security checkpoints.

“It’s a temporary fix,” said former TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. “The more important question is how many workers actually return to their posts now that paychecks are set to restart.”

The Department of Homeland Security reported that over 500 officers had left their positions during the shutdown, while thousands more called in sick due to financial strain. By Friday, callout rates peaked at 12.35%, affecting more than 3,560 employees, according to a DHS spokesperson. The agency emphasized that it had initiated efforts to restore pay under Trump’s directive and Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s leadership, with staff anticipating payment as early as Monday, March 30.

“How many of them come back after they get this paycheck? Or maybe they already have another full-time job lined up, they’re just waiting to inform TSA after they get their check on Monday,” Pistole noted.

Shortages in staffing have led to flight cancellations, extended security queues, and rising doubts about air travel reliability. Pistole warned that delays might persist beyond the pay resumption, citing the agency’s usual annual attrition rate of about 7% and lingering uncertainty over employee retention. Until staffing levels stabilize, he suggested travelers might explore alternatives like driving or rail services to avoid lengthy waits at checkpoints.

Mirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering transportation, space, medical, and consumer issues.