Up until now, it was not clear what was the root cause for some of the long security lines we’ve seen at key airports across the USA over the last week. The partial government shutdown? Just the normal surge in spring break travelers? Bad weather? But we now have an answer: it appears the shutdown is indeed leading to a massive uptick in TSA screeners calling in sick.
— Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) March 16, 2026
People can’t afford childcare. They can’t afford gas. They can’t afford to show up to work indefinitely without a paycheck. So they don’t. The result is exactly what we’re now seeing: fewer screeners, longer lines, and a system that begins to fray at the edges.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
