Airport Chaos: TSA Shutdown Causes Hours-Long Lines

0:00Travelers across the United States faced some of the longest airport security lines ever this week, thanks to the partial government shutdown that began in mid-February. With transportation security administration workers going unpaid, lines stretched for hours at major hubs like Atlanta, Baltimore, and Houston, prompting many to ditch planes for rental cars or trains. Earlier this week, Atlanta's main airport urged passengers to arrive four hours early, while one checkpoint in Baltimore shut down entirely. In Houston, officials warned weights could hit four hours or more, with crowds pouring in for the NCAA March Madness Sweet 16 games. First-rated flyers shared stories of wasting half a day in lines, with some like a Houston traveler deciding to drive instead for future trips, figuring it saves time. Others canceled plans altogether, like a New Yorker who skipped a family visit after a two-hour wait. The shutdown has led to over 3,000 TSA callouts in a single day, more than 40 percent absences

1:00at Atlanta and nearly 500 quits nationwide. To help, immigration and customs enforcement agents stepped in after training, handling crowd control and ID checks to speed things up. President Trump announced late Thursday he'd sign in order to pay TSA workers, though questions linger on the legal side. Meanwhile, rental car searches jumped 15 percent, and Florida's Brightline train hit record ridership as more people opt for ground travel to. Beat the chaos. You've been listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news.