More than 300 Transportation Security Administration employees have left the agency since the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse began in mid-February, according to internal figures obtained by CBS News, creating mounting pressure on airport screening operations across the United States while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's department remains trapped in a budget standoff.
The departures come as roughly 50,000 TSA officers continue working without pay during the shutdown that began on Feb. 14. CBS News reported that unscheduled absences among frontline officers have climbed to 6% nationwide, compared with about 2% before the funding lapse, a shift that officials say is beginning to affect airport operations.
According to figures cited by CBS News, 305 TSA employees separated from the agency between Feb. 14 and March 9, raising concerns among aviation officials that additional workers could leave once employees miss their first full paycheck during the shutdown.
Former TSA Administrator John Pistole told CBS News the funding crisis has significantly damaged morale within the agency.
"It's a huge morale hit for TSA," Pistole said, warning that adversaries could attempt to exploit what he described as "a perceived vulnerability" if fewer security officers report to work.
The political dispute over the shutdown has quickly turned into a partisan blame battle. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBS News that TSA officers have been forced to work without pay "for the THIRD time in nearly six months."
The spokesperson added that "the longer this shutdown drags on, the more financial hardship our patriotic officers and their families face, leading to more staffing issues and longer wait times for travelers."
The same DHS official blamed Democrats for the funding impasse and urged Congress to "re open DHS." Democrats have offered a different explanation. CBS News reported that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats attempted to pass a separate funding bill to keep TSA and other DHS agencies operating, but Republicans blocked the proposal.
At several airports, the staffing shortages have already produced long lines and travel delays.
CBS News reported that 53% of TSA officers at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport called out on March 8, followed by 47% the following day, sharply limiting the number of available screening lanes.
Local broadcaster KHOU reported that some passengers at Hobby Airport waited at least four hours to pass through security Sunday evening, with lines stretching into lower terminal areas and travelers missing flights.
Other outlets reported slightly different estimates. Reuters said average wait times reached 3.5 hours at one point, while CBS News earlier reported waits exceeding three hours, suggesting the delays fluctuated significantly during the day as staffing levels changed.
The staffing strain has also appeared elsewhere. At Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Reuters reported absentee rates averaging 14% among TSA officers during the shutdown. Airport officials advised passengers on X to arrive at least three hours before departure.
Replacing departing TSA officers is not immediate. CBS News noted that new hires typically require four to six months of training before they can operate independently at security checkpoints.
