The February 14 cutoff of Congressional funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) means that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who manage security at the nation’s airports are working without pay until the DHS budget is restored.
For attendees of meetings, conventions and tradeshows in the coming days (and perhaps weeks), TSA’s February 14 statement warns them of what the security wait times at airports might be:
“While airport screenings continue, travelers should prepare for potential staffing shortages, longer lines and increased wait time as the shutdown persists.”
If the shutdown persists long enough, the 55,000 TSA employees who work at the nation’s airports will miss their first paycheck on about March 1. And if the past is an indicator, there is a good chance that absenteeism will rise among TSA employees, compounding the inconvenience for travelers.
U.S. Travel, Airlines for America, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association issued a joint statement on the situation:
“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call-outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights.”
The federal government has, in similar situations, required airlines to cut schedules by 10 percent to compensate for fewer TSA employees on duty.
Even worse for travelers: TSA.gov noted that “the MyTSA mobile app might not function reliably to track live security checkpoint wait times… travelers should not rely on the app for real-time data.”
As long as the budget impasse continues, then, business travelers should arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of their flights to ensure they reach their departure gates in time.
