Unpaid TSA staff are calling out in big numbers. Here are the 5 airports where the problem is worst.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
- The partial government shutdown is causing long lines at airports.
- Large numbers of TSA agents are calling out of work, and 366 have left their jobs.
- More than 20% of agents have called out at Atlanta, the world's busiest airport by passengers.
Staffing shortages are causing hourslong lines at airports around the country, but it's much worse at some than others.
Transportation and Security Administration staff have been working without pay since February 14 due to a partial government shutdown.
Callout rates have doubled nationwide since the shutdown began, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday evening. It added that 366 transportation security officers have left the TSA between the start of the shutdown and Monday.
And after missing their first full paycheck last week, more TSA agents have been calling out of work.
Statistics shared with Business Insider by the DHS showed the five airports with the highest callout rates during the shutdown:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL): 21.46%
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK): 21.4%
- Houston Hobby (HOU): 20.98%
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY): 16.46%
- Pittsburgh International (PIT): 13.81%
Around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Atlanta saw wait times of up to 90 minutes at an international security checkpoint. At JFK, the longest wait time was 29 minutes, according to its website.
Before the shutdown, the average callout rate was less than 2%, the DHS said. That has more than tripled to a nationwide average of 6%, it added.
Recent days have seen particularly long queues at Houston Hobby Airport. It had the highest-single day callout rate last Saturday, reaching 55%. And, on at least five days, it has had unscheduled absence rates over 30%, according to the DHS.
Callout rates have also spiked at over 30% in New Orleans on Sunday and Monday, it added.
"These numbers illustrate the severe operational strain caused by the shutdown, underscoring the urgent need for resolution to restore stability, morale, and security at America's airports," the DHS said in a statement. "TSA funding must be restored immediately."
It also said that losing staff is troublesome because it takes four-to-six months to train new recruits.
The shutdown comes as Republicans seek additional funding for DHS, including billions more for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, Democrats want reforms in the wake of the turmoil in Minneapolis, as two people there were killed by ICE in January.