Another government shutdown could mean another round of airport delays
The rest of the government has been funded through Sept. 30. That includes the Federal Aviation Administration within the Department of Transportation, which won't be affected in this case.
United Airlines planes at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Another government shutdown appears imminent as soon as this weekend. It may provoke another potential round of frustrating airport delays for travelers.
This time, the shutdown would fall squarely on the Department of Homeland Security. Government funding for the agency was set aside for a standalone bill in the wake of federal immigration agents killing Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month.
The rest of the government has been funded through Sept. 30. That includes the Federal Aviation Administration within the Department of Transportation, which wouldn't be affected in this case.
Pretti's death sparked fury among congressional Democrats, who refused to approve annual DHS funding without putting new restrictions in place on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal arm tasked with carrying out President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Democratic demands include a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks and compelling them to seek a judicial warrant before making arrests. The White House has signaled openness to some of the demands, but there's been little signs of progress, at least publicly.
A two-week stopgap funding measure for DHS expires on Friday, and Democratic senators have said they will oppose the status quo at the homeland security agency.
Possible travel delays if DHS shutdown becomes a long one
Since TSA is under DHS's jurisdiction, the agency is poised to lose federal funding. In that scenario, TSA agents continue working without pay until lawmakers agree to restore DHS funding. TSA agents are charged with handling airport security, screening bags, and more.
Major travel delays are improbable if Congress and the White House reach a quick agreement on immigration enforcement. However, airport delays become likelier if the DHS shutdown drags on and TSA workers begin missing out on paychecks. That's when fewer security checkpoints are available, leading to the possibility of lengthy lines and flight delays.
DHS employees are scheduled to get their next paycheck on Feb. 17 for work completed through Feb. 7. Another paycheck is scheduled for March 3, and it would be a partial one depending on the length of the shutdown.
During recent testimony to Congress, Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill estimated that 95% of 61,000 TSA employees would keep working without pay in the event of a shutdown. However, she noted that plenty of TSA agents are still recovering from last year's record 43-day government shutdown, which severely strained their finances.
The TSA has been grappling with a 25% increase in the number of TSA agents who left their jobs in late 2025, compared to a year prior.