A senior Transportation Security Administration official is warning that some U.S. airports could face partial or full shutdowns as staffing shortages worsen during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told CBS News the agency is increasingly concerned about a surge in sick calls among TSA officers, which is already contributing to long security lines nationwide.
“If the call rate does climb, there could be scenarios where we may have to shut down airports,” Stahl said. “This is a serious situation.”
Stahl said conditions are unlikely to improve without restored funding. Hundreds of TSA officers have already quit, while roughly 50,000 remaining employees are continuing to work without pay.
“Our people are hurting,” he said. “We have individuals sleeping in their cars, drawing blood to afford gas to get to work.”
As of early Wednesday, widespread airport closures did not appear imminent, though smaller airports are considered more vulnerable.
The number of TSA officers calling out sick has climbed sharply since workers missed a paycheck last Friday. On Monday, more than 10% of officers nationwide called out — five times the typical rate.
The impact has been especially severe at major hubs. In Atlanta, more than 37% of TSA officers were absent Monday, forcing the closure of one checkpoint at the world’s busiest airport. Wait times there exceeded two hours on Tuesday.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, wait times reached at least 103 minutes.
In Philadelphia, three of six security checkpoints were closed Wednesday due to staffing shortages.
Officials warn that as staffing levels drop further, more screening lanes and checkpoints may be shut down, increasing delays and disruption for travelers.
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