WASHINGTON — Travelers across the nation are facing unprecedented delays at airport security checkpoints as the government shutdown stretches into its sixth week, the Transportation Security Administration’s acting director warned Congress Wednesday.
Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill painted a grim picture of the crisis affecting unpaid federal workers during testimony before lawmakers, describing employees who are receiving eviction notices, accumulating debt, and even selling blood plasma to survive financially. She urged Congress to prevent such situations in the future.
“This is a dire situation,” McNeill stated during her testimony.
Despite entering the 40th day of the Department of Homeland Security funding standoff, political leaders showed little sign of reaching an agreement. Republican senators who presented the most recent proposal and Democrats demanding additional immigration policy reforms remain far apart on a solution.
President Trump, who initially seemed supportive of the proposed agreement, has not provided his complete endorsement or used his influence to push for its passage.
During the House Homeland Security Committee hearing, senior officials from DHS agencies outlined serious concerns about potential security vulnerabilities if the partial government closure continues.
The Department of Homeland Security has operated without regular funding since mid-February. Democratic lawmakers are pushing for modifications to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and mass deportation programs following the deaths of two Minneapolis residents killed by federal agents during demonstrations.
The current proposal would provide funding for most DHS operations while excluding the enforcement and removal divisions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that have become the focal point of negotiations. The plan would support other ICE functions along with Customs and Border Protection operations.
Although the offer included additional restrictions on immigration officers, such as requiring body cameras, it omitted other measures Democrats have sought.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, emphasized the need for substantial reforms. New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, called for significant changes at ICE.
Republican leadership accused Democrats of endangering national security.
“They know this is crazy,” House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana declared.
However, conservative Republicans also criticized the proposal, insisting on complete funding for immigration operations and expressing doubt about GOP leadership promises to address Trump’s citizenship verification voting legislation in future bills.
McNeill informed legislators that numerous airports are seeing absence rates exceeding 40% among staff, while more than 480 transportation security officers have resigned since the shutdown began.
She highlighted the mounting economic pressure on TSA employees.
“Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet, all while being expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” she testified.
McNeill also revealed that TSA officers at airports nationwide have faced a more than 500% surge in assault incidents since the shutdown started.
“This is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” McNeill declared.
Houston’s airport chief executive warned that security queues forcing travelers to wait four hours or longer could become even worse without a swift resolution to the political deadlock.
The extensive lines snaking across multiple levels at George Bush Intercontinental Airport result from TSA’s ability to operate only one-third to half of the normal number of security checkpoints, explained Jim Szczesniak, who directs Houston’s airport system.
Trump’s directive to deploy ICE agents at airports threatens to worsen conditions, according to lawmakers. Video showing federal officers detaining a distressed woman at San Francisco International Airport sparked anger from local leaders Monday, though the incident was not connected to Trump’s immigration officer deployment order.
The FEMA Disaster Relief Fund is “rapidly depleting,” Victoria Barton, a FEMA external affairs representative, informed Congress members.
FEMA can maintain its disaster response and recovery operations only while funding remains available, with approximately 10,000 disaster response workers continuing to receive payment through the fund.
