TSA security delays at airports nationwide amid government shutdown
Travelers face massive TSA delays as the government shutdown leaves officers unpaid and airports strained nationwide.
Now 37 days into the government shutdown 2026 today, Sunday, March 22, a Senate vote to end the DHS shutdown and reopen the government amid a DHS funding lapse is planned as hours-long delays at TSA checkpoints tick up and major airports face a TSA staffing crisis.
The Senate returns Monday as we hit the second-longest government shutdown in history, partial and full shutdowns included, amid a bitter battle on Capitol Hill in Washington DC over Democrats’ demands to rein in ICE.
The partial shutdown began Feb. 14 after the Senate failed to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has failed four times to reach the 60 votes needed to end the shutdown. Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, has been the lone “yes” vote across party lines.
With spring break travel underway, March Madness fans traveling to NCAA basketball games, and heightened US security concerns over the Iran war, TSA wait times at Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans airports turned chaotic with more than a third of TSA officers calling out of work, per CBS News. As TSA agents go without full paychecks, CEOs of major airlines including American, United, JetBlue and Southwest have urged Congress to restore DHS funding to allow TSA workers to get paid. Airport shutdowns could happen, a top TSA official told Fox News.
The latest shutdown news comes amid a DHS secretary shakeup, with Kristi Noem fired and a Senate committee voting this week to advance the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the new homeland security secretary.
Despite the growing DHS shutdown risks to TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard and Cybersecurity, lawmakers have continued trading blame in heated exchanges live on the Senate floor this week, led by Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump, called Democrats “lunatics” for their resistance to pass the DHS funding bill in the 2026 budget. Citing airport delays, Trump warned Democrats will “pay a big price” in the midterm elections if the shutdown does not end soon, writing, “The Democrat’s purposeful DHS SHUTDOWN is causing chaos at the airports. These Lunatics are being totally unreasonable in their Radical Left asks. They are FULLY TO BLAME, and must pay a big price, for the good of our Country, in the Midterm Elections.”
The latest DHS shutdown updates come amid a possible full Senate vote on the SAVE Act, Trump’s 2026 legislation which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballots. Trump has pressed Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act before the midterms, but it has a high likelihood of failing a full vote.
Does the Senate vote today? When does Senate vote again on government shutdown 2026?
No. The Senate returns Monday, March 23, and next week a Senate vote to reopen the government will be held in hopes of bringing a DHS shutdown end in sight, although odds are slim. Lawmakers have failed to pass a House-backed bill four times since the shutdown started Feb. 14. The Senate is also expected to continue debate on the SAVE America Act.
We have reached the second-longest government shutdown in history (partial shutdowns included) as a DHS funding lapse stretches into day 35 today as we head into another weekend. The Senate has failed four times to reach the 60 votes needed to pass the DHS funding bill, HR 7147, an appropriations bill to fund TSA and other DHS agencies in the 2026 budget.
Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, has been the only lawmaker to cross party lines and vote “yes” as a clear resolution remained seemingly out of sight this week and the TSA worker shortage and airport delays tick up.
What time is next Senate vote?
A Senate vote today is expected around 1 p.m. ET, when the Senate convenes in hopes the government shutdown 2026 ends today as the impacts of the DHS shutdown hits major airports, with TSA wait times ticking up amid a TSA staffing crisis as TSA agents go without full pay.
The Senate has failed four times to reopen the federal government’s DHS agencies, with Senate Democrats pressing for major reforms to ICE amid the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota in January.
How to watch Senate vote live
A Senate vote will air live on the Senate.gov website after the Senate returns Monday to continue talks of passing the DHS funding measure. Debate on passing the SAVE Act is also expected. Senate floor proceedings stream live at Senate.gov. To watch Senate hearings from this week, head to C-Span, who also provides full transcripts of Senate hearings.
You can watch live coverage of Senate sessions on C-SPAN on cable TV. C-SPAN livestreams on several streaming platforms including FuboTV, Philo, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, and YouTube TV.
Why is DHS still shutdown? When will the DHS shutdown end?
Did the government shutdown end? Not yet. As we await a Senate vote today, the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, or DHS shutdown, drags into day 35 today, considered the second-longest shut down in history (partial and full shutdowns included). A DHS funding lapse in the DHS budget 2026 is awaiting a Senate vote to pass.
Why is the government still shut down? What is the shutdown about?
Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans have failed multiple votes to pass a DHS funding bill that would restore monies in the DHS 2026 budget to pay workers, many of whom are working without pay, particularly at airports where a TSA staffing crisis is playing out amid spring break travel and heightened security concerns from the Iran war.
ICE, Border Patrol, and the Coast Guard, however, remain fully funded due to other funds or from Trump’s signature $170 billion One Big Beautiful Bill.
When will the partial government shutdown end?
The partial government shutdown, which is impacting DHS agencies only, ends when the next Senate vote passes with the 60 votes needed. The last vote to end the shutdown, on Thursday, March 12, failed 51-46 live on the Senate floor that would have reopened the Department of Homeland Security. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was the lone Democrat to vote “yes.”
Why is TSA not getting paid? TSA workers paychecks
Are TSA agents not getting paid? Some 50,000 TSA workers have been deemed “essential” and only received a partial paycheck on Friday, March 13, and not their expected full paycheck. This has caused a TSA staffing shortage, as callout rates have nearly doubled, and hundreds of TSA employees have quit, CBS News first reported. As workers face food, rent and financial insecurity, Trump has urged TSA employees to “go to work.”
Who is affected by DHS funding lapse?
TSA, FEMA, and Cybersecurity are among the DHS agencies affected by the DHS funding lapse. ICE, Border Patrol and the Coast Guard are receiving funding through various means, including Trump’s signature $170 billion One Big Beautiful Bill.
Some 50,000 TSA agents at major airports are working without pay or receiving partial pay as “essential” workers amid the DHS funding lapse within the DHS budget 2026. FEMA disaster relief funds for states have dwindled, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said.
Here’s who else is affected by the government shutdown.
When was the last government shutdown?
The last government shutdown in 2025 was 43 days and considered the longest shutdown in history, stretching from Oct. 1, 2025, to Nov. 12, 2025. Senate Democrats and Republicans, including President Donald Trump, failed to agree on a short-term deal to keep the government funded, only passing (temporary) funding bills through Jan. 30.
We are currently in the second-longest federal government shutdown in history; Under President Donald Trump’s first term, the now-third-longest shutdown lasted a full 34 days, from Dec. 22, 2018, through Jan. 22, 2019.
Senate schedule
The U.S. Senate is on recess starting March 30 for the Easter holiday, not returning until April 13, barring any changes to the calendar. The Senate schedule shows lawmakers typically tend to formal business, or are in session, around 140 of 165 days annually. These are “legislative” days when the U.S. Senate convenes to debate bills, vote, or conduct floor business.
Unlike traditional jobs, a legislative day can last longer than 24 hours or stretch across multiple calendar days, and senators are usually occupied year-round with other responsibilities. Here’s the official 2026 Senate schedule.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.
