John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) issued a travel advisory on Monday (local time), warning travelers that the ongoing shortfall in federal funding could lead to much longer than usual security wait times.
In a post on X, the airport said wait times can shift quickly depending on the number of passengers and the number of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, adding that reporting of wait times has been temporarily suspended. Passengers were advised to plan extra time and check directly with their airline for up-to-date flight information.
Along with JFK, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport also previously issued a similar advisory. It noted that TSA shortages are causing longer-than-usual delays at security checkpoints and advised travelers to arrive at least four hours before departure.
The warnings from two of the busiest airports in the United States came a day after security lines stretched for up to five hours at the Atlanta airport on March 22, according to The New York Post. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that delays at airports nationwide could worsen due to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The report, citing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said TSA workers informed travelers that wait times in certain areas of the airport had reached five hours. Handling approximately 106 million passengers in 2025, Atlanta Airport remains the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.
TSA workers left during DHS shutdown
Roughly 400 TSA employees have already resigned as a result of the DHS shutdown. Duffy warned that if workers miss the second full payday, expected on Friday, more of them may decide to leave their jobs. In an interview with ABC News on March 22, he said that as Thursday through Saturday of the following week approaches, a growing number of TSA agents may either resign or not show up for duty.
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According to The Hill, the delays are due to TSA employees continuing to work without pay amid a DHS funding shortfall, which has reduced workforce availability and further strained airport operations.
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Disabling DHS
DHS has remained partially shut down since Feb. 14 after Senate Democrats blocked the funding measure while pushing for broader reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other immigration enforcement policies, The New York Post reported.
Since the shutdown began, wait times at TSA checkpoints have increased significantly, with major hubs such as LaGuardia Airport experiencing delays exceeding three hours due to understaffing.
In addition to resignations, absenteeism also increased. TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl said call rates have increased from about 2% before the shutdown to more than 10%. He also warned that some smaller airports could be forced to cease operations if the funding shortfall continues.
A TSA spokesman said employees last received a full paycheck on Feb. 14, followed by a partial paycheck on Feb. 28, and then missed the next scheduled pay cycle on March 13.
Duffy pointed out that many TSA workers start with salaries around $50,000, which already makes it difficult to manage the cost of living. He added that the missing payments have intensified their financial burden.
TSA agents endure third shutdown in six months
This is the third shutdown affecting TSA personnel in the past six months. Previous cases included a 43-day stoppage last year and another earlier this year, although it did not affect their pay.
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To reduce airport disruptions, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy ICE agents to assist at airports starting Monday to reduce the burden on TSA employees.
