Staffing issues at the Transportation Security Administration surged over the weekend after officers missed their first full paycheck due to a partial government shutdown, creating hourslong wait times for travelers as callouts increase operational concerns, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
On Sunday, there were more than 111 incidents where shortages threatened “operational integrity,” situations that the DHS describes as “hotspots.” Travelers across the country reported lengthy TSA queues that snaked through airports, with some waiting one to two hours at security checkpoints.
Houston Hobby International Airport reached a 55% callout rate on Saturday, which the DHS has described as the highest since the department funding lapsed last month.
Acting TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told NBC News on Monday that certain airports are disproportionately impacted, though there have been significant issues across the United States.
“Austin this morning was particularly problematic… security, of course, is unimpacted in terms of the security
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