TSA Warns of Prolonged Recovery After Government Shutdown, Even When Funding Returns

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) leadership has warned that airports and the agency will face “longstanding” negative impacts from the current partial government shutdown, effects that will persist even after Congress passes a spending bill.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl outlined how the agency will recover from weeks of missed paychecks for TSA officers, which has contributed to what the agency describes as the highest security wait times in its history.

“The reverberations that will be felt from this will be longstanding. They will continue for days after we get a re-appropriation and funding,” Stahl said on Wednesday. “We are already taking proactive measures to make sure that we’re going to get our people paid as quickly as possible.”

The Department of Homeland Security has now been unfunded for more than 40 days, leaving TSA screeners and agents without a full month’s pay. This financial strain has led to dramatic increases in employee call-outs, and DHS reports that more than 480 TSA employees have resigned from their positions.

Even after Congress approves funding, Stahl explained that financial systems outside the department’s control will delay getting money to employees. “It’s going to take time to pay our agents,” he said. “There are systems in place that we rely on to disperse funds and salaries to our folks, but we’re working as quickly as possible with our partners to make sure once we get that money, we’ll hit the ground running.”

The workforce challenges could extend well beyond the immediate aftermath of the shutdown. Following a previous shutdown this fiscal year, TSA experienced a 25% increase in attrition, raising concerns about staffing levels for the busy summer travel season and upcoming World Cup, which is expected to bring an additional 6-10 million travelers to U.S. airports.

“We could really be in a difficult position for the long term,” Stahl warned.

On Wednesday evening, a procedural vote to fund DHS failed for the sixth time. The bill requires a 60-vote threshold to break the Senate filibuster. While several Senate Democrats have crossed party lines to support funding the department, the votes have consistently fallen short of the required number.

The political impasse centers on disagreements over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Senate Democrats have insisted that the spending bill include revisions to ICE procedures, such as requiring judicial warrants and removing face coverings for agents. Senate Republicans counter that Democrats must be willing to fund ICE if they want reforms.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) accused Democrats of “going in circles” while TSA, FEMA, and other DHS employees continue working without pay. “They know better,” Thune told reporters after Wednesday’s vote. “They’re asking for things that have already been turned down.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) responded by stating that Democrats had held “constructive conversations” with Republican colleagues over the weekend, claiming that Republicans had verbally conceded that some Democratic reform proposals “make sense.”

As the congressional standoff continues, TSA has made operational adjustments to manage its limited resources. “We proactively took the step of suspending all members of Congress escort services,” Stahl explained. “We fundamentally feel like we should not be expending resources to provide expedited security screening to members of Congress at this time. Our focus is on serving the masses of American people.”

Last weekend, President Donald Trump deployed ICE agents to airports nationwide to support the depleted TSA workforce. When asked about the duration of this assistance after funding is restored, Stahl acknowledged that the ICE agents have helped alleviate challenges but said their continued presence would depend on how quickly normal TSA operations can resume.

“Hopefully, we won’t need them much longer,” Stahl said. “But they’ve been incredibly helpful, and we really appreciate the support from the president and from ICE. It really underscores the importance for the Senate Democrats to fund the Department, fund TSA, so we can get back to normal order.”