03/14/2026
Advice for Those Who Hate to Wait from
**Scroll to the bottom for the inside scoop!
The partial government shutdown is stretching TSA staffing thin and causing hours-long airport security lines at some major U.S. airports, especially during busy spring break travel.
What’s Going On at the Checkpoint
Because funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed in mid-February, TSA officers are required to work without pay, and unscheduled absences have risen as some officers call out or seek other work. DHS and TSA officials say these staffing shortages are directly contributing to longer-than-usual security wait times at certain large airports.
Current Wait Times and Where Its Worst
Reports over the past week show just how uneven the situation is from airport to airport. At the high end, news sources report that travelers at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong Airport have reported lines approaching or exceeding three hours, with airports urging passengers to arrive four to five hours before departure. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Charlotte Douglas have also warned of lines that can stretch well past an hour at peak times.
By contrast, some airports—especially at off-peak times or in smaller markets—are still seeing waits closer to 10–20 minutes. This variability makes it hard for passengers to predict their experience, which is why experts and TSA alike are urging travelers to build in significantly more buffer time than usual and to monitor live wait estimates in tools such as the MyTSA app.
For many travelers, the most striking part of the shutdown has been the visual of lines snaking through terminals, sometimes back to baggage claim or even toward parking areas. Reports from Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, and other hubs describe families missing flights after standing in line for two or three hours, even when they arrived what used to be considered “early.” News outlets have also highlighted heightened stress and frayed tempers at checkpoints, as well as airports organizing donation drives and support efforts for unpaid TSA staff.
At the same time, not every checkpoint is in crisis every hour of the day. Some travelers report relatively normal waits when flying very early or late, or from less-trafficked terminals, underscoring how localized and time-dependent the disruption can be.
The Inside Scoop
Clients of **** have recently reported that, in this shutdown environment, CLEAR lanes at major airports have been unusually manageable, with relatively short queues and a noticeably faster path to the X-ray and body scanners than either PreCheck or the main security line. (As always, once you reach the machines, everyone is subject to the same screening pace, but skipping the long ID-check line can save a huge chunk of time.) If you want to explore that option, you can learn more and enroll directly through CLEAR’s site at https://www.clearme.com before your next trip.
For travelers carrying an American Express Platinum card, remember that Amex currently offers up to about $209 per calendar year in statement credits toward CLEAR+ membership when you charge the fee to your eligible Platinum card, effectively offsetting the cost for many cardholders (exact terms and caps can vary, so check your card’s benefits page). If you decide CLEAR is right for you, it’s smart to enroll and complete your setup before you head to the airport, still plan to arrive earlier than usual during the shutdown, and then give yourself permission to relax with a book at the gate instead of spending that extra hour or two standing in line. Safe travels everyone! And please get in touch with me by emailing [email protected] to plan your next travel adventure!
CLEAR’s identity verification platform makes experiences safer and easier—both physically and digitally. Skip long lines with CLEAR in airports and more.
