# TSA Staffing Crisis: Houston Hobby Reports 55% Screener Sick Calls Amid Shutdown

_Mar 17 12:00_

Tags: TSA, Houston Hobby Airport, loyalty program, industry news

TSA sick calls have surged to 5x the normal rate nationwide, with Houston Hobby hitting 55% on March 15, 2026, as federal workers await paychecks during the ongoing government shutdown

## Summary

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

## Sources cited

- [One Mile at a Time](https://onemileatatime.com/news/tsa-chaos-airport-security-screeners-sick) — TSA Chaos: One Airport Had 55% Of Security Screeners Call In Sick

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