How to monitor TSA security lines during a DHS shutdown
Spring break travel has brought fresh pressure to airport security lines, with some checkpoints seeing delays that spill well beyond typical processing times. In recent days, travelers reported waiting up to two hours at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and airlines and airport operators advised passengers to arrive as much as three hours early for flights departing from New Orleans and Austin, Texas.
The mix of disruptions has been uneven, with some airports seeing wait times that resemble normal conditions while others fall out of rhythm. The delays can shift quickly, even within the same airport, as TSA staffing is affected by the partial government shutdown and as demand rises with spring break crowds. As a result, checking TSA wait times before a scheduled departure has become a key step for passengers trying to plan ahead.
TSA app listings and third-party estimates may lag
During the shutdown, TSA is not actively managing its sites, which can leave the wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app out of date. Experts also cautioned that estimated wait times displayed on third-party websites tracking TSA lines may be outdated during the same period if they rely on publicly available data that is no longer keeping up with on-the-ground conditions.
Eric Rosen, director of travel content for the Points Guy, said major airports often publish checkpoint times “terminal by terminal,” and he pointed travelers to those more granular updates. He said the most reliable approach right now is to check an airport’s own websites and social media accounts, including X, where many airports have been sharing timely guidance.
Check early, then check again
Multiple experts said waiting until the final hours before departure can leave passengers with little margin if a bottleneck forms. Rosen described a scenario in which a traveler’s drive to an airport takes 45 minutes for a flight leaving in three hours—meaning a last-minute delay can remove the ability to adjust plans.
The shutdown, which began Feb. 14, affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes TSA. It is the third funding lapse in a year that has left roughly 50,000 TSA agents working without pay and waiting for money from missed paychecks. The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing most airport security screeners, said employee absences are rising as the shutdown drags on because unpaid TSA workers face mounting financial strain while trying to continue reporting for duty.
Homeland Security has said at least 366 TSA agents have quit during the shutdown. Rosen said that uncertainty makes bottlenecks difficult to predict in advance, adding that one airport could see higher call-outs one day and fewer the next.
Have backups if lines run long
Tyler Hosford, a security director at International SOS, said passengers should take a proactive approach rather than relying only on wait-time tracking. When booking travel, he suggested flying earlier in the day so travelers have more room to adjust if something goes wrong—for example, by rebooking, switching airports, or arranging a rental car.
“I always say you should have a Plan B under the best of circumstances,” Hosford said. “But I think we’re to a point where you need to start having Plan C, D and maybe even E.”
If you arrive and the line is long
If travelers pull up to an airport and find long lines at security, Hosford said they should not assume the situation is fixed. Passengers can ask staff at checkpoints for an estimated wait time and whether assistance is available to move through the line more quickly.
“Always talk to people. It can never hurt to ask,” Hosford said. “The worst they can say is, ’No, we can’t help you.’” If help is not available, Hosford said travelers should contact the airline—by phone, through a mobile app, or via social media—to ask about rebooking options and other ways to get to their destination.
“Never stay stagnant. You want to be moving forward trying to find your options,” Hosford said. “It can feel exhausting, but the alternate is you potentially get stuck and miss your flight.”