(NEXSTAR) – This week, travelers may face increased flight delays and lengthy security lines as some key airport employees receive their last paychecks amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Workers from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic controllers are set to continue working without pay. They are hopeful that their salaries will be processed once the government reopens, but that’s little comfort right now.
During the previous prolonged shutdown in 2019, there were significant pay issues, leading many airport staff to financial struggles and health issues due to stress.
As of Wednesday, the shutdown is now in its third week. Both TSA employees and air traffic controllers have received their last paychecks for the near future. TSA staff received part of their salaries on October 10, while air traffic controllers confirmed receiving the final installment of their partial wages.
It’s unclear exactly how TSA delays are being exacerbated since a specific latency tracking system will not be updated during the shutdown. However, the union for TSA employees mentioned that, while major disruptions haven’t occurred yet, longer lines at security checkpoints could soon become a reality after the employees receive their last paychecks.
Joe Shuker, the union’s regional vice president, indicated that the situation might worsen particularly on Thursday through Monday, which are typically busy days for airports. “You wouldn’t want to plan a hectic travel day on a Tuesday, obviously,” he noted.
Shuker also pointed out that even those employees wishing to keep working might find it difficult financially. With families depending on their income, missing a paycheck poses a real challenge for people needing to cover childcare, mortgages, and daily living expenses.
Raymond Dahlstrom, an air traffic controller at LaGuardia Airport, expressed similar concerns. “The pressure is already high in this role, but the additional uncertainty about pay adds to the stress,” he conveyed.
Experts in the industry highlight that air traffic control was already facing staffing challenges prior to the shutdown. The demands of the job are considerable, compounded by existing shortages in personnel.
At Hollywood Burbank Airport, for instance, a power outage in the control tower led to significant delays. Currently, they have about 15 out of 24 certified personnel on duty, and surprisingly, some of those lack health insurance. This scenario can quickly lead to further reductions in available staff, making it difficult to maintain operations.
Since the beginning of the shutdown on October 1, there have been reports of air traffic controller shortages across major cities, leading to delays at various airports from Boston to Houston. New York areas like JFK and LaGuardia are bracing for potential flight stops and delays.
