We are currently several weeks into the latest partial government shutdown, resulting in many federal employees not receiving their salaries. The most visible consequences of this can be seen at airports, and there are statistics that I believe are noteworthy.
How many TSA agents are reporting sick from work?
One of the significant stories in recent days and weeks has been the length of security lines at numerous airports across the United States. Unsurprisingly, TSA agents are increasingly calling in sick since they haven’t been paid in weeks. It’s completely unjust how they’re merely pawns in this situation, as they cannot even afford to go to work due to expenses like childcare and gas.
In that context, how severe is the situation really? Nationally, the narrative suggests that security lines are hours long, yet during both flights I took in the last week, security took less than five minutes. Kris Van Cleave provides some intriguing statistics regarding TSA sick calls:
– On Sunday, March 15, 2026, 10% of TSA officers nationwide reported sick, which is five times the typical rate (approximately 2%); this figure has been rising significantly day-by-day, especially on weekends.
– Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) has been one of the worst in the nation for sick calls, and on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the airport experienced 55% of screeners calling in sick, compared to 41% the previous Sunday.
Additionally, although it’s not related to sick calls, 366 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown commenced. There are around 50,000 across the system, making that approximately 0.7% of the workforce.
It makes sense that the number of sick calls would spike on weekends and during spring break, purely from a childcare standpoint as parents can’t afford childcare when they aren’t receiving pay. Thus, in terms of security lines, those are likely the periods to be most concerned about excessively long waits.
I’m curious about how soon the “system” might collapse.
Over the years, numerous government shutdowns have concluded due to the repercussions that the lack of paychecks has on our aviation ecosystem, particularly for air traffic controllers and TSA agents.
What distinguishes this specific situation is that air traffic controllers are being compensated while TSA agents aren’t. This is due to the fact that TSA agents belong to the Department of Homeland Security (which is not being funded), while air traffic controllers fall under the Department of Transportation (which is receiving funding).
Therefore, I imagine this shutdown might end sooner if air traffic controllers were also not being paid (not that I would wish that upon them). Nothing captures national attention and causes concern quite like a scenario where nearly all air traffic controllers at an airport call in sick.
The trend is evident — the number of sick calls continues to rise — and I feel like we are at most one or two weeks away from certain airports becoming entirely unusable. In Houston, we’re observing a 7-8% increase weekly (though only over a few weeks), and if this trend persists, well…
President Trump addressed the TSA situation in a social media post a few days ago, urging officers to return to work:
Thank you to Johnny Jones and all of our GREAT TSA Agents who are going to work but not receiving pay because the Radical Left Democrats refuse to honor the agreement that was approved and voted on in Congress. They want your money to go to “Border Criminals, Murderers, foreign Drug Dealers, and some of the worst people on earth.” They do not want it to go to you. Keep fighting for the USA. GO TO WORK! I assure you that I will never forget you!!! President DJT
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson posted the following last night:
Delayed at the airport? Thank a Democrat.
Democrats have voted REPEATEDLY to PROTECT criminal illegal aliens and PREVENT our own American TSA agents from being paid.
Democrats have opted to make the American people suffer just so illegal aliens can remain in our country.
Bottom line
TSA officers haven’t received paychecks for several weeks now, which is truly unjust (especially since they faced the same situation just a few months ago). While staffing challenges are somewhat uneven, one thing is certain — this situation is deteriorating.
This past weekend, around 10% of officers nationwide reported sick, while one airport (Houston Hobby) experienced 55% of officers calling in sick. I’m curious how much longer it will be until the system essentially halts nationwide.
What are your thoughts on how the TSA situation will develop in the coming weeks?