Travelers left in the dark as TSA wait time displays disappear amid federal funding lapse, agent shortage
As New York airports contend with a shortage of TSA agents and the recent deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport, security wait-time information has been removed from airport websites.
More Stories
There is no longer a clear way to estimate airport wait times as a federal funding lapse stretches on.
As New York airports contend with a shortage of TSA agents and the recent deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport, security wait-time information has been removed from airport websites. The change leaves travelers with little sense of how long they can expect to wait before reaching their gates.
That is—if their flights depart at all.
As of noon Wednesday, 161 flights had been canceled at LaGuardia Airport, with an additional 171 flights delayed, according to FlightAware.
JFK Airport has posted an alert on its website saying they have suspended their wait time reporting, “Due to the federal funding lapse, security wait times may be significantly longer than normal. Wait times are subject to rapid change based on passenger volumes and TSA staffing."
LaGuardia's echoes the same sentiment, "security wait times may be significantly longer than normal. Wait times are subject to rapid change based on passenger volumes and TSA staffing."
The Department of Homeland Security says more than 450 TSA workers have walked off the job since the partial shutdown began, with additional agents calling out sick. TSA employees have now gone five weeks without pay.
DHS officials say replacing lost staff is not a quick fix, noting that new TSA recruits require months of training.
Republican leaders say they are working on legislation to fund the department.
Congressman Nick LaLota told News 12 that Senate Democrats still need to come on board.
“I think Republicans have offered…fund the darn department,” LaLota said.
On Wednesday, DHS posted on X blaming Democrats for “the chaos in our nation’s airports,” accusing them of refusing to fund DHS and pay TSA agents. The post included a photo of a statement released from President Donald Trump, who said Democrats “want our country to fail,” claiming they rejected a previously signed bill over immigration-related disagreements.
Glen Cove Congressman Tom Suozzi says Democrats remain concerned that key immigration enforcement issues have not been fully addressed during funding discussions.
Among those concerns, Suozzi cited the use of masked agents and cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities during investigations.
Suozzi says he is working with a Republican congressman from Pennsylvania on legislation that would reopen all Homeland Security agencies while including ICE reforms.
