TSA Paychecks Ease Airport Delays

Security lines shorten at several major airports, though the shutdown continues to raise staffing and pay concerns.

TSA Paychecks Ease Airport Delays
[Credit: Julian Belyea, TSA]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Security delays at several major U.S. airports eased after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers began receiving back pay following weeks without compensation during the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
  • The back pay covered two full pay periods for most TSA workers, but one week remained unpaid, and the certainty of future regular checks was unclear.
  • Union officials stated that the payments provided only partial relief, with employees feeling their finances were significantly impacted despite the compensation.
  • The partial DHS shutdown, which led to the pay disruption, remained unresolved due to ongoing disagreements over immigration-related funding.
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Security delays at several major U.S. airports eased Monday after many Transportation Security Administration officers began receiving back pay following weeks without compensation during the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The Associated Press reported that lines at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport fell sharply, while Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington also saw improved wait times. Most TSA workers began receiving back pay covering two full pay periods, though another week remained unpaid and questions persisted about future checks.

Union officials said the payments provided only partial relief. Johnny Jones of the American Federation of Government Employees told the AP, “None of my colleagues feel like they’ve been made whole,” adding, “Their finances are destroyed.”

The shutdown, which began Feb. 14, remains unresolved as lawmakers continue to disagree over immigration-related DHS funding. President Donald Trump ordered TSA officers to receive compensation that would have accrued during the shutdown, but it remained unclear whether regular paychecks would continue.

Matt Ryan

Matt is AVweb's lead editor. His eyes have been turned to the sky for as long as he can remember. Now a fixed-wing pilot, instructor and aviation writer, Matt also leads and teaches a high school aviation program in the Dallas area. Beyond his lifelong obsession with aviation, Matt loves to travel and has lived in Greece, Czechia and Germany for studies and for work.
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