Air travelers faced continued delays at major airports nationwide this weekend despite President Trump’s Friday executive order directing immediate compensation for Transportation Security Administration workers.
The presidential directive instructs the Department of Homeland Security to immediately compensate TSA personnel, though the timing of when airports will see relief remains uncertain.
The order comes during one of the busiest travel periods, coinciding with spring break schedules across school systems and universities, plus approaching Passover and Easter celebrations.
While some early Saturday morning travelers reported minimal delays passing through security checkpoints, this appeared to be an exception rather than the norm. Passengers at several major hubs posted on social media about dramatically increasing wait times throughout the day.
“We have not previously experienced checkpoint wait times similar to what we are seeing this morning,” Baltimore-Washington International Airport posted Saturday on X. BWI authorities advised passengers to arrive four hours ahead of their departure times.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated TSA staff could receive payment as early as Monday, providing hope for employees who haven’t received compensation since February 14th.
However, questions remain about whether this commitment will be fulfilled on schedule and if it will immediately resolve the extensive queues plaguing airports.
Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA employee who publishes a travel newsletter called Gate Access, believes the workforce shortage won’t substantially improve until workers feel secure about future payment reliability.
“If it’s only for a pay period, that’s not enough to bring them back,” Harmon-Marshall explained. “It has to be an extended pay for them to come back or want to stay there.”
He predicts extended wait times could persist for one to two additional weeks.
The situation remains fluid as airports that saw screening lines backing up into check-in areas must determine whether to reopen security checkpoints or expedited service lanes previously closed due to insufficient personnel.
Several airports reported daily TSA employee absence rates reaching 40%. Nationally on Thursday, over 11.8% of scheduled TSA workers called out sick, marking the highest rate to date, according to Friday’s DHS announcement.
Approximately 500 officers from the agency’s nearly 50,000-person workforce have resigned since the shutdown began, DHS reported.
Travel experts recommend checking airport conditions frequently through official websites and social media channels where facilities post current updates and traveler guidance.
Multiple airports Saturday advised passengers to plan for at least four hours for both domestic and international security screening.
“Wait times can change quickly based on passenger volume and TSA staffing,” stated a Saturday morning notice on John F. Kennedy International Airport’s website in New York.
The MyTSA mobile application may provide inaccurate wait time information since TSA isn’t actively updating its platforms during the shutdown. Third-party websites tracking TSA lines could also display outdated estimates if they depend on publicly available information, according to travel specialists.
