More than 400 TSA officers have quit since shutdown began
Over 400 TSA Employees Have Resigned Amid Partial Government Closure
The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 400 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff have left their posts since the partial government shutdown commenced on February 14. This development comes as TSA officers have been operating without compensation during the fiscal standstill.
The funding crisis originated from Democratic demands for reforms within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These calls for change followed allegations of misconduct and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year. Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, noted that the callout rate for TSA personnel reached 10% on most days during the shutdown.
According to DHS, the TSA employs approximately 65,000 individuals, with 50,000 serving as frontline officers responsible for airport security. Of those who have resigned during the shutdown, nearly half have more than three years of experience, while a third have over five years. Employees have voiced concerns about financial instability, with some fearing eviction or homelessness due to unpaid bills.
“I face the possibility of losing my home and being without shelter,” said Anthony Riley, a 58-year-old father of three who has been working unpaid for several weeks.
Airport delays and passenger frustration have intensified as staff shortages mount. The highest callout rate nationwide occurred on Friday at 10.22%, per DHS. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport saw a 29.5% callout rate, while Houston Intercontinental Airport had 36.6%. Houston Hobby Airport reported the most severe shortage, with a 51.5% callout rate on the same day.
In the U.S. Senate, a Democratic bill aimed at funding TSA exclusively but not the entire DHS failed to secure the necessary 60 votes. The vote split along party lines, resulting in a 41-49 tally. Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-led effort to fully fund DHS, citing dissatisfaction with ICE operations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both from New York, have advocated for ICE reforms. Their proposals include ending indiscriminate arrests, banning mask-wearing by ICE officers, and halting racial profiling. The administration has attributed the shutdown to Democratic actions, labeling it the “Democrat DHS shutdown.”
President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, threatened to deploy ICE to airports during the crisis. However, ICE itself received $75 billion in additional funding through the “big, beautiful bill” passed last year. Joe Smollen, a traveler departing from Newark Liberty International Airport, shared his concerns about the situation. “It’s unfair for citizens to endure this,” he said. “These workers are diligent, and it’s unjust they’re targeted like this,” he added.
Contributors to this report include Jay Blackman, an NBC News producer specializing in transportation, space, medical, and consumer topics, and Phil Helsel, a reporter for NBC News.
