Long TSA Lines: What the New Pay Order Means for Travelers

The new order from President Trump tells Homeland Security to give TSA workers a paycheck, but it is still unclear how fast the change will reach the gates. Many people were already stuck in long queues on spring break, waiting for flights that seemed to take forever. One traveler, Betty Mitchell, got to Philadelphia International Airport at 12:30 a. m. for a 5 a. m. flight, but the airline desk didn’t open until 3 a. m. When it did, everyone rushed in at once and the lines stretched for hours. She missed her flight and had to catch the next one, saying the experience was “crazy long” and that better coordination between airlines and TSA might help. Passengers with very early flights reported smoother lines, but most social media posts from busy airports described queues growing by the hour. The Baltimore‑Washington International Airport warned travelers to arrive four hours early and said they had never seen such long wait times before.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TSA staff could receive pay as early as Monday, a relief for those who have been unpaid since February 14. However, former TSA officer Caleb Harmon‑Marshall warned that a single pay period may not restore confidence among workers. He believes officers need guaranteed future payments to return and stay, predicting that long lines could last another week or two. Airports still face decisions about whether to reopen checkpoints or speed up service lanes that were closed because of staffing shortages. Nationwide, a high percentage of TSA employees missed work on Thursday, the highest rate yet. Nearly 500 officers have quit since the shutdown began. Holly Reynolds Lee’s family was also caught in the chaos, spending five hours alone at a single TSA checkpoint. She called the situation a government failure and expressed sympathy for travelers with young children or older relatives who faced “nightmare” waiting times. Experts advise checking airport websites and social media for up‑to‑date conditions before heading to the gate. Many airports now recommend a four‑hour buffer for both domestic and international flights, noting that wait times can change quickly with passenger volume and staffing levels. TSA’s MyTSA app may not be reliable during the shutdown, as it does not actively manage its sites.