TSA Absences Spike as DHS Shutdown Nears One Month
Absences and resignations from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are piling up as the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, with no immediate end in sight to the nearly four-week shutdown. Many employees, including those in TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and civilian U.S. Coast Guard employees, will miss their first full paycheck on Friday.
According to internal statistics obtained by CBS News, more than 300 TSA employees left the agency since the shutdown began on February 14. Nationwide call out rates are averaging about six percent during the shutdown, compared with two percent during normal times.
At some airports the call out rates are significantly higher. Airports hit hard include New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (21 percent average shutdown call out rate), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (19 percent), and William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (18 percent).
At Houston Hobby, 53 percent of officers called out on March 8, and 47 percent called out March 9 – resulting in nearly half of scheduled officers not reporting to work during the two-day stretch. That led to security lines as long as four hours at the airport.
DHS did reopen its Global Entry Program on Wednesday, March 11, but the move is unlikely to have an effect on easing security lines.
TSA Workforce Future
Former TSA Administrator John Pistole said the multiple shutdowns are a “huge morale hit for TSA” and could have permanent effects on the workforce. Pistole noted that TSA lost nearly 1,100 officers following the record-breaking fall 2025 shutdown. And it could also make recruitment difficult, if workers face long stretches without pay.
Others say the repeated shutdowns make expanded privatization of airport security an idea to consider.
San Francisco International (SFO) is the largest of nearly two dozen U.S. airports where security checkpoints are staffed by private contractors while maintaining TSA oversight.
“The money’s already been allocated, the payments have already been made, and that continues without interruption,” SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel told The Associated Press. “That is a very nice place to be.”
But the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) disagrees.
“We will never advocate for any privatization of any federal employees. We don’t believe that’ll work,” said Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA union’s bargaining unit.
Congress Action on Shutdown
Congressional action to end the shutdown remains stuck with numerous variables complicating matters.
Democrats are holding firm and demanding changes to immigration enforcement tactics. Republicans agree with some of them (wearing body cameras) but oppose others (ban on officers wearing masks).
In addition, President Trump is threatening to not sign any legislation unless the Senate passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a controversial voting reform bill that would require proof of citizenship and a government ID to vote.
Also pending is the looming confirmation hearing for Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to become the new DHS secretary.
And Democrats are threatening to shut down Senate business unless top administration officials testify about the conflict in Iran.
