TSA official warns some US airports could close amid shutdown

A TSA official warned Tuesday that some airports, "particularly smaller ones," may have to close as the partial government shutdown enters its fifth week. Acting deputy administrator Adam Stahl said mass call-outs by security agents are leaving checkpoints stretched thin.

The National Deployment Office, which had sent relief staff to overwhelmed facilities, is "fully depleted," Stahl added. The more than 50,000 agents who screen passengers and luggage at roughly 450 airports have received only one partial payment since DHS funding lapsed on February 14.

Call-outs have pushed wait times past three hours at some checkpoints, with lines spilling into parking garages and onto sidewalks. Roughly 21% of TSA staff at Atlanta, New York-JFK, and Houston Hobby have called out, while the nationwide call-out rate, previously under 2%, has more than doubled.

United States, Atlanta; New York-JFK; Houston Hobby

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