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The partial government shutdown has led to long lines at airports.
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A large number of TSA workers have asked for unemployment, and 366 people have resigned.
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More than 20% of agents have made calls at Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport for passengers.
Staffing shortages have led to long queues at airports across the country, but some airports are far worse than others.
Transportation and Safety Administration workers have been working without pay since February 14 due to the partial government shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said late Monday that police presence has doubled nationwide since the lockdown began. It added that 366 Transportation Security Officers had left TSA between the start of the shutdown and Monday.
More Transportation Security Administration workers are claiming unemployment after missing out on their first full paycheck last week.
Statistics shared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with Business Insider show that Monday saw the highest number of people calling for shutdowns nationwide at 10.22%. New Orleans had the highest call rate that day, about 38.8%, followed by Atlanta at 37.1%, Houston Hobby Airport at 35.2%, New York JFK Airport at 30.4%, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 24.4%, and New York LaGuardia Airport at 20.8%.
The five airports with the highest average call rates since the shutdown began are:
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 21.5%
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New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): 21.4%
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Houston Hobby (HOU): 20.1%
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Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): 16.5%
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Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): 13.8%
Wait times at Atlanta’s international security checkpoint were as long as 90 minutes around 11 a.m. Tuesday. At JFK, the longest wait time is more than 30 minutes, according to its website.
The Department of Homeland Security said before the shutdown, the average police presence was less than 2%. This number has more than tripled to the national average of 6%, the report added.
The lines at Houston’s Hobby Airport have been particularly long in recent days. Last Saturday, its single-day annotation rate was the highest, reaching 55%. And, according to the Department of Homeland Security, unscheduled absences of at least five days exceed 30%.
“These numbers illustrate the severe operational strain caused by the shutdown and underscore the urgent need for solutions to restore stability, morale, and safety at America’s airports,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. “TSA funding must be restored immediately.”
It also said losing employees was troublesome because it takes four to six months to train new employees.
The shutdown comes as Republicans seek more funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including billions for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, Democrats want reforms in the wake of unrest in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens were killed by ICE in January.
Read the original article on Business Insider