TSA Shutdown: 8-Hour Lines, 11% Absenteeism

On March 25, TSA officers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport called out

at a 36% rate on Wednesday, the highest in the nation, as the government shut down hit

its 40th day.

Reduced staffing led to security lines stretching up to 8 hours long, snarling travel for thousands

of passengers.

Workers have gone without full paychecks for over a month, with many facing another

missed payday this week.

Nationally, nearly 11% of scheduled TSA staff skip shifts on Monday, totaling more than

3,200 people, and at least 458 have quit since the shutdown started.

Travelers are feeling the crunch hard, with massive backups at major hubs like those in

New York and New Jersey.

One passenger from Boston described lines snaking from the basement to the third floor,

forcing her to sleep at the airport after missing her flight.

Meanwhile, political talks drag on, with Democrats pushing for immigration and customs enforcement

reforms in any funding deal, while Republicans.

Proposed separating that funding to reopen the rest of the Department of Homeland Security.

As conditions stay unpredictable and absences mount, airports urge extra time for security

and negotiations continue without a clear end in sight.