TSA government shutdown: will U.S. flights and airports be affected?
In a TSA government shutdown, airports stay open and flights keep flying. TSA officers and air traffic controllers are essential, so they keep working, but without pay. The longer that lasts, the more staff call out, which can mean long security lines, flight delays and, as in 2025, ordered flight cuts. Right now there is no shutdown, and airports are operating normally. The government is funded through December 11, 2026.
TSA & flights: Normal Government: OPEN Live status
Is TSA affected by a government shutdown?
Yes, but not in the way many travelers expect. Screening does not stop: TSA officers keep working because their jobs protect lives and property. The same goes for FAA air traffic controllers and the safety staff who keep planes moving. What changes is their pay. They are not paid until the shutdown ends, and by law they then receive back pay for the time they worked.
Airlines and airports are not federal agencies, so they keep running as usual. Customs officers keep working, and passport processing continues because it is paid for by fees.
Why a shutdown causes flight delays and cancellations
In the first days of a shutdown, most travelers notice nothing. Problems usually build after the first missed paycheck, usually a few weeks in:
- Security lines: when more screeners call out or quit, airports open fewer lanes and waits get longer, especially at busy times.
- Air traffic control: the FAA was already short of controllers. When more are absent, it slows the flow of flights into busy areas, which causes delays, and sometimes halts flights into an airport for a time.
- Ordered flight cuts: in November 2025 the FAA told airlines to cancel a share of their flights at 40 busy airports to keep the system safe.
What happened at airports in past shutdowns
| Shutdown | What happened at airports |
|---|---|
| Dec 2018 – Jan 2019 (35 days) | Unscheduled TSA absences rose to 7.6% on January 14, 2019, compared with 3.2% a year earlier. On January 25, a shortage of air traffic controllers led the FAA to halt flights into New York's LaGuardia Airport for a time. A deal to reopen the government was announced later that day. |
| Oct – Nov 2025 (43 days) | Air traffic controllers got a partial paycheck on October 14 and a $0 paycheck on October 28. As staffing problems grew, the FAA ordered airlines to cut flights at 40 busy airports, starting at 4% on November 7 and rising to 6%. The cut was lowered to 3% on November 15, after the shutdown ended, and the order ended on November 17. |
| Feb – Apr 2026 (76 days, Homeland Security only) | TSA officers worked without pay and missed their first full paycheck on March 13. Some airports had more than 40% of scheduled screeners call out, some security waits reached hours, and more than 500 officers quit. A late-March executive order restarted TSA pay. Air traffic control was funded and not affected. |
Airport trouble is one of the clearest signs of a long shutdown. In 2019, the LaGuardia delays added to the pressure to end the longest shutdown up to that time.
If a shutdown started after the next deadline
The next funding deadline is December 11, 2026. The stopgap law covers every agency, including Homeland Security (TSA) and Transportation (the FAA). If it ran out without a new law, both would be unfunded, so screeners and air traffic controllers would work without pay at the same time.
What travelers can do
- Arrive earlier than usual, especially at large airports and during holiday or spring break travel.
- Check your flight status in your airline's app before you leave home, and sign up for text alerts.
- Book nonstop flights where you can, and leave extra time for connections.
- Know your refund rights. If the airline cancels your flight and you decide not to travel, you are entitled to a refund under Department of Transportation rules.
- Be patient with screeners. They are doing the same job without a paycheck.
Airports are only one part of what shuts down in a government shutdown. Our U.S. government shutdown tracker shows the live status.
Frequently asked questions
Is TSA affected by a government shutdown?
TSA keeps screening, because its officers are considered essential. But they work without pay until the shutdown ends, and in long shutdowns more officers call out, which can mean fewer open lanes and longer lines.
Do air traffic controllers get paid during a government shutdown?
Not on time. Controllers keep working, but they are not paid until funding returns. A 2019 law guarantees back pay for federal employees once the shutdown ends.
Will my flight be canceled because of a government shutdown?
Most flights operate normally, especially early in a shutdown. Delays and cancellations become more likely the longer controllers and screeners go unpaid. In November 2025 the FAA ordered flight cuts at 40 airports, so check your airline's app on the day you travel.
Are airports closed during a government shutdown?
No. Airports, airlines and air traffic control keep operating. The risk is slower security lines and delays caused by staff shortages, not closures.
Can I get a refund if my flight is canceled during a shutdown?
Under Department of Transportation rules, if an airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a refund, whatever the cause of the cancellation.
Is TSA part of the same funding bill as air traffic control?
No. TSA is funded through the Homeland Security bill and the FAA through the Transportation bill. That is why the 2026 Homeland Security shutdown hit security lines but not air traffic control.