When traveling in America, it is standard practice to arrive an hour or two early for your flight. This gives you ample time to check bags, go through security, and settle in. Today, travelers are arriving six hours early and are still uncertain as to whether they will make their flights. A partial government shutdown is to blame.
Since Feb. 14, the government has been in partial shutdown. The issue lies in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats cannot agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The disagreement stems from Trump’s restructuring of immigration policy. TSA, a branch of the DHS, pays the price for the debate.
Because DHS lacks funding, it cannot pay for agencies and employees. This has led to thousands of TSA agents working without pay, which is the second time in six months. TSA agents are considered essential workers and, therefore, are required to work without pay while the government is shut down. Though they will be fully compensated at the end of the shutdown, nonetheless, the weeks without pay place massive strain on employees and their families.
TSA agents have been quitting across the country. Over 480 TSA employees have quit since the shutdown, and many others have called in sick. Houston’s two largest airports reported 40% of staff calling out of work, and Phoenix Sky Harbor reported 18% calling out. Airports are struggling, and travelers are feeling it.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) is a particularly shocking showcase of the effects of the partial government shutdown. Travelers reported a three-story-long line in Terminal A, passing through a subway, baggage claim, ticketing, and eventually making it to security. Additionally, IAH has only been able to operate two of its five terminals. Wait times have been reported for five to six hours. New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have stopped displaying security wait times altogether.
In an attempt to combat these extreme wait times, ICE agents have been deployed to various airports across the country. While a seemingly good idea, the effectiveness of this move is up for debate.
As of March 29, this is the longest partial government shutdown ever. It is hard to say when it will end, and when airports will return to normal. President Trump recently signed an executive order mandating DHS pay TSA workers. This should ease some tensions at airports today, but it did not establish a clear, continuous payment schedule. Meanwhile, Congress continues to work towards an agreement. Airports remain crowded, hectic, and disorganized. Travelers continue to face extremely long lines. Only time will tell when Americans will be able to fly stress-free, and when TSA employees will get their much deserved and needed paycheck. For now, the fate of American airports lies in the hands of Congress.
This shutdown serves as a microcosm of everything that is wrong with our government. Politicians are more concerned about party ideals and power than the people they serve. As a result, citizens suffer, employees work without pay, and the country as a whole is much worse off. The focus of politicians needs to be directed away from themselves, and towards the people and communities they serve. There needs to be an increase in compromise from both sides of the aisle. Politicians need to put aside their respective parties and work together more to create a more unified government.
