TSA Wait Times Today — Partial Government Shutdown Creates Airport Chaos During Spring Break

Thursday, March 19, 2026 — CRITICAL TRAVEL ALERT

Yes — the government is partially shut down right now, and TSA is taking the hardest hit. The DHS funding lapse that began February 14 has now lasted 33 days, with 50,000 TSA officers working without pay, more than 366 quitting outright, and spring break travel pushing airports to their absolute breaking point. Wait times at major hubs have stretched past two hours — and the situation is not improving.

Is the Government Shutdown Happening Right Now — Yes, Since February 14

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed in mid-February amid a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over immigration reform. TSA screeners have now missed full paychecks just as the spring break travel season heats up.

The DHS shutdown persists because Democrats are demanding reforms to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. The TSA, FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other DHS agencies have felt the brunt of the shutdown — while ICE and CBP have millions in funding set aside from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and are largely unaffected.

TSA Wait Times by Major Airport Right Now

As of March 18–19, here is the situation at major hubs: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport saw main checkpoint waits drop to around 20 minutes by late afternoon Tuesday after peaking at over 90 minutes earlier that day. JFK in New York had minimal delays of just a few minutes Tuesday morning. Los Angeles International reported waits as low as 2–6 minutes on March 17. Dallas-Fort Worth checkpoints generally stayed under 20 minutes in most terminals.

Atlanta TSA Wait Times — What to Know for ATL

Long wait times have hit Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hard. On Monday, wait times occasionally stretched to nearly two hours. Callouts at ATL increased by more than 30 percent on March 15 and 16, according to DHS data.

TSA projected more than 250,000 travelers through ATL from mid-March through Sunday — a volume that strains even a fully staffed operation. With absences running at 10% or more daily, the math is brutal for one of the busiest airports in the world.

Fort Lauderdale, MCO, and Florida Airports — Spring Break Warning

Florida-specific updates from March 17 showed manageable waits at many smaller airports with wait times of 3–19 minutes at Northwest Florida Beaches International, but major hubs like Orlando and Miami experienced moderate increases. Spring break travel combined with the shutdown has amplified congestion at Sun Belt hubs like Atlanta, Florida airports, and Texas facilities.

TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and Touchless ID — What Still Works

TSA PreCheck lanes remain open at most airports. DHS had announced they would be closed so agents could focus on standard lanes, but quickly reversed course. TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations according to staffing changes.

At airports using the Screening Partnership Program with private contractors — including San Francisco International — wait times are largely unaffected by the shutdown because private employees continue to receive pay regardless of the federal funding lapse. Roughly 20 U.S. airports participate in this program.

How to Check TSA Wait Times Right Now — Best Tools Available

TSA is not actively managing its sites during the shutdown, meaning the wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate. The most reliable way to monitor wait times right now is by checking individual airport websites and social media accounts on X, where many airports have been sharing timely updates and guidance.

Philadelphia International recommends travelers arrive 2.5 hours early for domestic flights and 3.5 hours early for international flights. Most major airports are issuing similar guidance — and given the volatility, arriving 3 hours early for any domestic departure at a major hub is the safest approach during the ongoing TSA shutdown situation.