Nearly 500 airport security staff quit as DHS shutdown drags on with no end in sight – US politics live

The Guardian US News
by Tom Ambrose
March 26, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Nearly 500 TSA and airport security staff quit during DHS shutdown, creating staffing gaps at major transportation hubs.

How This Affects You

If you travel by air, airport security delays and longer wait times may increase due to staffing shortages, and reduced security personnel could affect screening thoroughness at major hubs.

AI Summary

Nearly 500 airport security staff have quit during an ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, as negotiations to resolve a funding standoff triggered by the Trump administration's immigration policies have stalled without agreement. The departures reflect the mounting toll of the extended shutdown on federal operations and airport safety infrastructure. The funding dispute centers on disagreements over the administration's immigration enforcement agenda, which Congress has so far resisted fully backing through appropriations. Airport security shortages during a shutdown can create operational bottlenecks and staffing gaps at major transportation hubs. With no breakthrough in sight, attrition among TSA and other DHS personnel threatens to compound disruptions to travel infrastructure.

What's Being Done

Negotiations between the Trump administration and Congress over DHS funding remain stalled with no agreement in sight.

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