TSA delays continue at some U.S. airports, ICE officers could remain on duty

U.S. airport security operations continue to feel the ripple effects of a recent government funding standoff that left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers temporarily unpaid.

While President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to resume TSA paychecks, the disruption has led to lingering staffing shortages and extended wait times at several major airports.

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the busiest airport in the world by passenger volume—travellers are still being advised to prepare for security waits exceeding four hours for both domestic and international departures.

Atlanta has been particularly hard hit throughout the funding lapse, with absenteeism among TSA personnel reportedly surpassing one-third on certain days.

While TSA officers could begin receiving back pay as early as Monday (March 30), industry observers caution that workforce stability will not rebound immediately.

The timing is especially concerning amid the spring break travel rush – one of the busiest periods for U.S. air travel.

During the peak of the disruption, average security wait times climbed to approximately 4.5 hours nationwide—the longest in TSA history, according to a recent testimony from U.S. Deputy TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.

Wait times, however, vary significantly by airport.

As of Saturday afternoon (March 28), Orlando International reported wait times just under 50 minutes at some checkpoints, with minimal or no delays at others.

Meanwhile, major hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport have maintained relatively smooth operations, with maximum wait times around 12 minutes and some checkpoints reporting no delays at all.

In the New York metropolitan area, John F. Kennedy International Airport recorded wait times of up to 37 minutes, reflecting moderate congestion but far less severe than conditions seen in Atlanta.

With so many inconsistencies, airlines continue to emphasize the importance of monitoring real-time security wait updates and arriving early, particularly as passenger volumes rise in the coming weeks.

ICE officers could remain at airports

Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers could remain at U.S. airports even after Transportation Security Administration workers receive their paychecks, according to White House border czar Tom Homan.

Asked if ICE agents will leave airports once TSA workers begin receiving pay again, Homan said on Sunday (March 29) "we'll see."

"It depends on how many TSA agents come back to work [and] how many TSA agents have actually quit and have no plan [of] coming back to work," Homan told CNN State of the Union host Jake Tapper.

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