Long lines and growing frustration continue at Houston airports as the government shutdown stretches into its sixth week, with TSA union leaders warning the situation is only getting worse.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, travelers faced hours-long wait times Tuesday, with lines stretching through Terminal E.
Union leaders say staffing shortages are driving those delays as many TSA officers go unpaid.
TSA Workers Missing Paychecks, Calling Out
Leaders with the American Federation of Government Employees say more than 400 TSA workers have quit during the shutdown, while thousands of others continue to call out.
They say officers have now missed their third paycheck, leaving many struggling to cover basic expenses.
Dr. Everett Kelley, the union’s national president, says workers can’t continue like this:
“We’ve been hearing about progress and optimism for weeks. Our members cannot eat optimism. They cannot pay rent with progress. They need a paycheck.”
According to union leaders, the impact is especially visible in Houston:
- Nearly 40% of TSA officers called out at Hobby
- And 36.1% of officers called out at Bush
Why Lines Are So Long in Houston
Union leaders say Houston’s size and cost of living are making the problem worse.
Johnny Jones, a TSA union leader for Texas, says many workers simply can’t afford to keep showing up without pay:
“The issue in Houston is that the metropolitan area… is easily 80 to 100 miles. It’s pretty spread out… and the economical impacts of fuel costs and other daily costs doesn’t allow the employees… to handle the effect.”
ICE Agents at Airports Raise Questions
As delays grow, the federal government has deployed ICE agents to airports including in Houston to assist.
But union leaders say that support is unclear and ineffective.
Jones says ICE agents are not trained to do TSA jobs:
“Unfortunately they’re getting trained at Bush to learn how to do exit lanes and as you can see… all they were doing was just walking around because there is no one there to train them.”
He says it takes four to six months to fully train a TSA officer to handle screenings and other responsibilities — and the roles between TSA and ICE are completely different.
Jones also questioned the purpose of the deployment:
“It doesn’t matter what ICE is doing up there, they just need to pay the employees. This is a straight up distraction.”
DHS Response Avoids Specific Questions
KPRC 2 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, asking:
- What role ICE agents are playing
- Whether they’re helping reduce wait times
- And if they’re receiving TSA-specific training
Instead of directly answering those questions, DHS sent a statement blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
In part, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said:
“American travelers are facing HOURS long waits at airports across the country… While the Democrats continue to put the safety… at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers… to help bolster TSA efforts.”
The statement did not clarify how ICE agents are improving conditions at Houston airports.
Workers Demand Action
Union leaders say the focus should be on ending the shutdown and paying workers — not temporary fixes.
Kelley emphasized the urgency:
“These are people with mortgages and car payments and kids who need to eat… Right now, these workers need a vote, a signature, and a paycheck. So end this shenanigans today.”
Jones echoed that frustration:
“People are trying to make money for themselves. This has nothing to do with the safety and security of America… this has everything to do with trying to profit off the American people.”
Political Blame Continues
The shutdown remains a political standoff, with Republicans and Democrats continuing to blame each other.
Texas Senator John Cornyn said in a statement he has voted to fund TSA and DHS five times and recently visited TSA workers in Austin.
Meanwhile, union leaders say they have not heard directly from lawmakers offering support.
What Travelers Should Expect
With no clear end to the shutdown, union leaders warn delays could continue — or worsen.
For now, travelers flying out of Houston should:
- Arrive early
- Expect long TSA lines
- Plan for possible delays