What happened
During the ongoing partial government shutdown, TSA agents are calling in sick at elevated rates due to delayed paychecks. Nationwide sick call rates reached 10% on Sunday, March 15, 2026, five times the usual 2% baseline. Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) was particularly impacted, with 55% of screeners calling in sick on that date, up from 41% the previous Sunday. Additionally, 366 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began. The disparity in pay status between TSA (Department of Homeland Security) and air traffic controllers (Department of Transportation) is cited as a key factor. The trend suggests increasing disruption to security lines, especially during weekends and spring break, with projections indicating potential for significant operational strain in the coming weeks