TSA Officers Quitting Amid Shutdown, Spring Travel Surge

0:00On March 20th, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says airport disruptions are set to worsen as the partial government shutdown drags into its 35-day with no resolution insight. TSA officers, who number around 50,000 nationwide, are working without pay in facing a second mispaycheck on March 27th. This comes right as spring break travel ramps up, putting extra pressure on security lines at major hubs. Foreign weights already hit airports like Atlanta and Houston on Friday, with absences ticking down slightly to 9.8% nationwide on Thursday from 10.2% the day before. Still, rates stayed high at spots like 32% in Atlanta, 29% in New York JFK, and over 30% at both Houston airports. Travel groups, airlines and hotel chains send a joint letter warning of mounting strain on workers protecting millions of passengers. They point out how last weekend's absence spike to 10% led to major backups in Houston

1:00and New Orleans, echoing problems from a longer shutdown last fall that forced flight cuts. Meanwhile, Central Republicans and Democrats are negotiating Friday to fund the TSA specifically. The Department of Homeland Security reports 366 officers have quit during the shutdown, which started February 13th over. Immigration reform disputes. Airlines braced for a record 171 million spring travelers, up 4% from last year, as talks continue and lines threaten to grow even longer.