Travelers in US continue to face delays at airport security amid DHS shutdown

Staffing shortages intensify and lead to longer screening times as TSA workers go for weeks without pay Many travelers across the US are continuing to face significant delays at airport security checkpoints as the homeland security department shutdown, which has affected staffing of the Transportation Security Administration, remains ongoing. With TSA workers going for weeks without pay, staffing shortages have intensified, leading to longer screening times and growing frustration among passengers. On Friday morning, major airports in Houston, Texas, and Queens, New York, reported wait times stretching up to two hours at peak travel periods. John F Kennedy international airport in New York – one of the busiest international travel hubs in the country – reported security wait times reaching as high as 42 minutes at Terminal 4 on Friday. “Due to shutdowns of federal agencies, TSA wait times may be longer than usual. We’ve deployed additional customer care staff into terminals to help manage queues, assist passengers, and keep people moving as efficiently as possible. Wait times can change quickly, so please allow extra time when traveling,” the airport said. The delays come as airpor