DHS shutdown forces TSA website to pause operations as delays spike nationwide
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As funding cuts at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continue, TSA agents are struggling with partial paychecks and paychecks that will soon be empty if the shutdown continues.
These days, the closures are causing major delays at some airports across the country, with wait times of 3.5 hours reported for passengers at major hubs due to officer shortages.
The TSA website and app paused operations on February 17. TSA says on its website that the site “will not be updated until funding goes into effect,” leaving travelers helpless to access wait time information.
THE CLOSURE CAUSES FLIGHT CHAOS AS TSA LINES SPREAD INTO PARKING GARAGES WITH WAITS OF 3 HOURS OR MORE
A TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Monday that staff who manage the website and app have been placed on leave.
“Some individual airports follow [security line] waiting times, [so] we would point them out [in] “In that direction,” the spokesman said.
The TSA website and app paused operations on February 17, with TSA saying the site “will not be updated until funding is in effect.” (Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana advised travelers through social media posts to arrive at the airport three hours early on Sunday.
William Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, says on its website that travelers should “plan to arrive 4 hours prior to scheduled departure to allow additional time for TSA security screening.”
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TSA Cares Assistance is still available for travelers requiring special assistance.
Passengers must fill out the form 72 hours before the flight.
Airports are recommending travelers arrive 3-4 hours early as the DHS closure is causing significant delays. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
If a special assistance passenger’s flight is within 72 hours, that person should call the TSA Cares hotline at (855) 787-2227 to request assistance.
Those requiring in-flight assistance or wheelchair assistance from the curb to the plane should contact their airline.
TSA advises travelers to arrive “as early as possible” to avoid missing their flights.
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“As staffing constraints emerge, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust its operations accordingly,” the spokesperson said.
Airport wait times are expected to increase as the closure continues, putting TSA officers in a difficult position.
TSA advises travelers to arrive “as early as possible” to avoid missing their flights. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
JetBlue released It issued a travel advisory Thursday, writing that “the closure may result in longer wait times for TSA security screenings, including for TSA PreCheck customers.”
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The airline company said, “In order to avoid any problems during the flight, we recommend that you arrive at least 3 hours before the scheduled departure time for domestic flights and at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure time for international flights.” he said.
“We won’t be able to answer questions until the appropriations are signed into law.”
Lauren Bis, DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, previously told Fox News Digital that the delays were “serious consequences” of DHS’s “Democrat shutdown.”
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“Travellers today face TSA queues lasting up to nearly 3 hours at some major airports, resulting in missed flights and major delays during peak travel times,” Bis said in a statement.
“These political demonstrations force patriotic TSA officers who protect our skies from serious threats to work without pay,” he said.
TSA currently says on its website: “The information on this site may not be up to date. Transactions made through this site may not be processed, we cannot answer questions until the appropriations are enacted.”
