Official warns some airports could shut down if TSA sick calls climb

Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned that some airports could be forced to shut down if Transportation Security Administration employee sick calls continue to rise. Stahl attributed the escalating staffing crisis to a lack of funding for the TSA and Department of Homeland Security, saying conditions will deteriorate without congressional appropriations. Airport closures would disrupt travel nationwide and undermine security screening capacity at a critical infrastructure level. The warning underscores mounting pressure on the TSA workforce, which has faced hiring and retention challenges in recent years. Stahl's statement appears designed to push lawmakers toward funding action before the situation reaches critical operational thresholds.