Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics 'It’s exhausting': TSA staffing shortage causes long wait times at Houston’s airports For several days, Houston's two commercial airports have experienced the highest TSA agent callouts and some of the longest security check-in lines in the country. National 'It's exhausting': TSA staffing shortage causes long wait times at Houston's airports March 25, 20264:40 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition From By Bianca Seward 'It’s exhausting': TSA staffing shortage causes long wait times at Houston’s airports Listen · 2:01 2:01 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5759340/nx-s1-9702170" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript For several days, Houston's two commercial airports have experienced the highest TSA agent callouts and some of the longest security check-in lines in the country. Sponsor Message
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Long security lines are still clogging airports across the country, even after President Trump sent ICE agents to help the TSA in some cities. TSA agents have been calling out sick and quitting, refusing to work without pay during the partial government shutdown. Houston Public Media's Bianca Seward has been tracking the situation in Houston, where TSA call out rates are especially high.
BIANCA SEWARD, BYLINE: At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, wait times stretched well past four hours, with security lines winding across three floors. Alanna Buffi was headed home to Rhode Island. She says she rushed to the airport after hearing about the delays.
ALANNA BUFFI: It's very frustrating. It's exhausting.
SEWARD: After nearly four hours in line, she made it through security and boarded her flight. Many others weren't as lucky. In both of Houston's commercial airports, the TSA staffing shortage impact has been severe. Roughly 40% of TSA workers have called out in recent days, leaving just two of seven checkpoints at Bush Intercontinental open. At a Tuesday press conference, TSA union leaders said airports and cities with high cost of living are seeing more agents calling out. Many work second jobs. Here's union leader Aaron Barker.
AARON BARKER: That would be the major factor and why you would see more officers calling out in different areas.
SEWARD: This week, TSA agents will miss their second paycheck, and many are still recovering from the financial burdens of the last two shutdowns. In Houston, ICE agents were found patrolling the lines for security but not helping directly with any TSA-related security measures. Johnny Jones is with the union representing TSA agents. He said ICE agents won't relieve backups at security lines.
JOHNNY JONES: They're not helping wait times, OK? They may be there doing some mild support functions, but it's a Tuesday. It's not as busy as a Monday or a Friday, OK? Congress needs to pay the TSA officers, that's the bottom line.
SEWARD: Jones added that more TSA agents from other airports and from out of state are being moved to help Houston manage the crowds.
For NPR News, I'm Bianca Seward in Houston. Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor MessageBecome an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1167:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(323)},323:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(84)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1140),c(116),c(94),c(52),c(493),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1141),c(143),c(1142),c(238),c(48),c(1143)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1167,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();