DHS shutdown causing TSA shortages, concerns among travelers at major airports

PHOENIX - The search for a resolution to the partial government shutdown continues as travelers at major airports across the country face significant delays.

Big picture view:

Entering its fourth week, the partial government shutdown is hitting travelers hard. Security lines are surging across major hubs like Houston with wait times stretching up to three hours, leading to missed flights and travel day delays.

"Had heard through the grapevine that things were a little bit crazy over here," a traveler in Houston said. "When we walked in, we saw the giant Southwest line and then realized that I guess there was a TSA staffing shortage. We realized that we were gonna miss our 2:40 flight and were told that there was no way we were gonna make it. We got a hotel room so that we would have a place to be for the next few hours and now we're back trying again to get on our 10:45 flight."

A similar scenario is unfolding in New Orleans, where staffing shortages are being attributed to TSA workers calling out because they are not being paid during the shutdown.

Massive security lines have been seen snaking through airports in Houston, New Orleans, and Atlanta. The congestion has led to a wave of missed flights and delays. TSA officers being forced to work without pay, has resulted in staffing shortages and long lines. 

Local perspective:

"We’re fed up. We’ve had enough," Jovan Petkovich, a Phoenix TSA employee and union representative, said. "This is the third shutdown in a matter of 6 months."

Petkovich has been with TSA for more than 10 years and is based out of Phoenix. He called the shutdown a huge economic roller coaster.

"Houston, Atlanta passengers. How many delays is it? How many flight attendants are being impacted by this because of their flights either being delayed or canceled out?" he said. "That means they’re not getting paid. If you’re not sitting behind the controls as a pilot, you’re not getting the paycheck. If you’re grounded because your flights are canceled, delayed, and everything because your passengers didn’t make it through security lines and so on, it has an impact."

Dig deeper:

Despite long TSA lines elsewhere, the security lines are moving smoothly at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.  Officials continue to monitor the situation for any impact the shutdown may have locally.

"Very easy. We left from SFO and no lines, we got right on the airplane, right through TSA. Very simple," a traveler passing through Sky Harbor said. 

While another traveler said, "It was a long line, but only took about 10 minutes."

What they're saying:

The Trump administration and DHS are pointing fingers at Democrats, saying this chaos is a result of their refusal to fund DHS. The Senate voted 51 to 45 on March 5, failing to advance the legislation to end the partial shutdown. 

"This is a problem of policy, not personnel. The rot is deep," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on March 5. "No one person can straighten this up until the president changes the whole agency, stops the violence and reigns in ICE."

What we don't know:

It is unclear how long the partial shutdown will last or how far its impact will reach. 

What's next:

FOX 10 reached out to Arizona's two Democratic Senators about the shutdown but have not received a response at this time.