If you’re traveling soon, you may experience some grueling wait times at airports in the future due to the partial government shutdown. But to make things more complicated, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently not updating its website during the partial shutdown, meaning travelers can’t easily check TSA wait times before heading to the airport.
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“Due to the discontinuation of federal funding, this website will not be actively managed,” the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the TSA, wrote in a statement on February 17. “This website was last updated on February 17, 2026, and will not be updated until funding is enacted. Therefore, the information on the website may not be the most current.”
Why doesn’t TSA update its website?
While the TSA website, including the MyTSA mobile app, cannot currently be relied upon, airports are facing another major issue due to a lack of funding: staffing shortages. Two weeks ago, TSA employees were receiving only partial pay. Right now, about 50,000 airport security personnel are working for free. With many people choosing to stay home, many airports simply don’t have enough staff. That, coupled with a surge in people flying during spring break, has led to long lines for some.
Airports including Houston’s Hobby Airport, George Bush International Airport, New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina are all plagued by long wait times, ABC News reported over the weekend.
How can travelers check wait times without the TSA website?
Although there are no updated wait times on the TSA website, there are still some other ways to prepare for your trip to the airport. Checking the actual airport’s website may be a good place to start, as most U.S. airports frequently update their websites with travel advisories, wait time updates, and other relevant information.
TSAWaitTimes.com is another helpful resource because it provides travelers with up-to-date information on TSA wait times. In addition, the website provides a list of airports with the current longest wait times, a map showing current airport delays, and enables travelers to search for any airport.
Currently, a message on the website reads: “Due to the ongoing government shutdown, travelers should expect longer security lines and possible flight delays. Please plan to arrive at the airport 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual. If possible, travel light, download airline apps, and keep your phone charged for real-time updates and communications.”
Another popular website is FlightAware, a comprehensive real-time tracking tool that provides travelers with arrival and departure times for all U.S. flights. The website also lists all current airport delays “within, in and out of the United States” to help travelers get to their destinations on time.
When will the TSA site be up and running?
As the shutdown continues, there has been no announcement yet on when TSA funding will be restored or when TSA will begin actively updating its website. However, some airline executives are making pleas to Congress, urging lawmakers to reach a deal quickly.
“More than 2.7 million people passed through TSA yesterday, but too many had to wait in extremely long and slow lines at checkpoints,” Chris Sununu, president and CEO of the American Airlines trade group, said in a statement to AP News on Monday.
Sununu continued: “It is unacceptable to wait 2 or 3 hours. It is also unacceptable for TSA officers to be paid $0 this week.”
This article originally appeared on fastcompany.com
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