Transportation Security Administration officers at Denver International Airport are still clocking in even as their paychecks are on hold during a partial federal government shutdown that has collided with the spring-break travel crush. To help them get by, the airport is asking travelers to chip in with $10 and $20 grocery and gas gift cards. While some airports around the country are seeing security lines drag on for hours, Denver’s checkpoints have, so far, avoided those marathon waits.
Denver Asking Travelers To Help
Denver International Airport put out a statement asking the public to donate small grocery and gas gift cards to support “TSA employees who continue to work without pay,” according to Denver International Airport. CBS Colorado reported that screeners at DEN are still showing up for their spring-break shifts despite the funding lapse, with some employees saying the lack of paychecks is squeezing their household budgets and making commutes tougher. Airport officials say the gift card effort is structured to comply with federal gift rules while still offering quick, practical help.
Long Waits at Some Hubs
In other parts of the country, security lines have ballooned as more TSA officers call out. Waits at Houston Hobby hit as long as three-and-a-half hours, Reuters reported. The crunch follows the lapse of Homeland Security funding in mid-February, which left roughly 50,000 screeners working without pay and helped drive a rise in absences and staffing gaps, according to AP News. From New Orleans to Charlotte, airports have been telling travelers to arrive earlier than usual as the spring-break rush picks up speed.
Industry Pressure on Congress
Airlines and travel trade groups are ramping up pressure on Congress to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security and get pay flowing again to security workers, Axios reported. Airports across the country have rolled out donation drives and staff pantries to support unpaid employees in the meantime. Industry groups warn lawmakers that if absences keep climbing, passengers could see more delayed schedules and strained operations throughout the busy spring travel season.
What Travelers Should Know
If you are flying this week, build in extra time at the airport, keep an eye on your airline’s alerts for any schedule shifts and pay attention to local checkpoint updates, The Washington Post advised. Some official tools and timelines, including estimated wait times on the MyTSA app, may not be current during the shutdown, so airport websites and local social feeds are often the better way to track what is happening in real time, USA Today via Yahoo Travel reported.
