Airport security staffing pressures are growing after more than 1,000 Transportation Security Administration officers reportedly resigned during the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS confirmed the updated figure on Tuesday, warning that the losses could create major challenges ahead of peak summer travel and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“This loss has significantly decreased TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and left critical gaps in staffing, as each new recruit requires 4-6 months of training,” a DHS spokesperson said.
The shutdown began on February 14 and has become the longest funding lapse in U.S. history focused on a single department. During the standoff, tens of thousands of TSA employees were required to continue working without pay for more than a month, creating financial strain for workers across the country.
Back in late March, officials said more than 450 officers had already left their jobs. At that time, DHS stated, “More than 450 TSA officers have left the workforce, and thousands more are calling out because they can’t afford necessities like gas, childcare, food or rent.”
Although TSA employees began receiving pay again on March 30 through emergency funding tied to Donald Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful, Bill,” officials say the money may not last much longer. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News on April 21 that payroll expenses were exceeding $1.6 billion every two weeks.
“The money is going extremely fast,” Mullin said. “The president can’t do another executive order for us to use money, because there’s no more money there.”
Earlier in the shutdown, some airports reported security wait times stretching to three hours. With staffing numbers still dropping, travelers could once again face lengthy lines and delays in the months ahead.
