Houston's Bush Airport Struggles with Worst Shutdown Delays

0:00George Bush, Intercontinental Airport in Houston, is spacing the worst delays from the government shutdown of any U.S. airport. Transportation security administration workers are calling out a nearly double-the-national rate, leading to four-hour security lines and frustrated. Travelers. The partial shutdown means unpaid shifts for many federal employees hitting this busy hub hard. Houston's airports topped the list for absences, with Bush seeing close to 40% of TSA staff not showing up on some days, compared to 11. Percent nationwide. As a major United Airlines base handling over 48 million passengers last year, the airport runs far more checkpoint lanes than usual. But only about half are open now. Travelers like those heading out early in the morning describe endless cues and exhaustion, while workers sight mounting bills from higher grocery. And gas prices plus debt from the last shutdown. Union leaders say everyone would show up if paychecks flowed normally. Busy March events from the Houston livestock show and rodeo, drawing over 2 million visitors to energy conferences and college basketball games, have spike traffic even more.

1:10Yet tourism remains strong, with the city logging its best hotel bookings ever this month. Conditions ease the Wednesday, with weights dropping under two hours, but officials warned lines could worsen nationwide until Congress resolves the shutdown and gets workers paid. That's your update from El Paso News today, powered by AI.