TSA delays worsen during government shutdown as unpaid workers miss shifts

Travelers across the country are facing long and worsening security lines at airports as the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to impact TSA staffing.

(CNN)- The disruption comes as Transportation Security Administration employees miss paychecks due to a lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which began in mid-February. Many workers have now gone without a full paycheck, increasing financial strain and affecting attendance.

As a result, TSA call-out rates are climbing — and so are wait times.

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, officials reported that up to a third of TSA staff did not show up for shifts on Wednesday. By Thursday morning, security wait times there stretched up to 90 minutes.

In Houston, delays were even worse. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, wait times peaked at nearly three hours.

TSA officers say working without pay is taking a toll.

“There’s times that at night I’m like, what am I going to do,” said TSA officer Alondra Galvan.

Some agents are now turning to food banks for support as the shutdown drags on.

Airports and local communities are stepping in to help. In Syracuse, New York, officials are organizing food drives to support TSA employees and their families.

“It takes a village,” said Jason Mehl, Chief Commercial Officer at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. “Our TSA employees — without food, it’s tough to feed your family.”

Other airports, including Columbus, Ohio, are encouraging travelers to donate grocery or gas gift cards to assist affected workers.

Passengers say they understand the importance of supporting TSA officers during the crisis.

“They’re keeping us safe. They’re doing a hard job,” one traveler said.

With no immediate resolution to the shutdown in sight, travelers are being urged to arrive at airports early and prepare for extended wait times.