Flight disruptions made a comeback in California on Sunday, with long lines seen at TSA checkpoints amid a worsening funding crisis.
At San Diego International Airport, travelers faced waits of around two hours as the prolonged 40-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security caused significant delays nationwide.
California is now bracing for a contentious situation as President Trump plans to deploy ICE agents in major terminals to compensate for the absence of TSA personnel.
Gavin Newsom, in a statement, urged for “restraint” regarding immigration enforcement, but he didn’t specify what actions he would take if ICE officers were indeed sent to California airports.
Meanwhile, TSA officials expressed their disapproval of the plan, labeling it “the stupidest thing they’ve ever heard.”
As early as 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, passengers at San Diego International Airport reported dire conditions, with check-in lines growing and delays becoming evident.
Images circulating on social media captured numerous vehicles waiting at major hubs, while many passengers frantically texted their status as they awaited direction.
Congressman Scott Peters pointed out the chaotic scene by stating, “This is the view from San Diego airport at 6:30 this morning. It doesn’t have to be this way.” He further criticized the situation, insisting there are funds available for TSA agents, including other necessary personnel, without diverting resources to ICE and Border Patrol.
Another traveler, Suajit, shared a distressing video depicting the chaos, mentioning, “San Diego airport is in chaos right now,” with significant delays noted in various terminals.
Reports indicated that there were 174 delays and four canceled flights out of San Diego on Sunday, affecting carriers like Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and SkyWest, according to Flight Aware.
Nicole Hall, an airport spokeswoman, mentioned that “checkpoint wait times and flight schedules are subject to federal and partner airline operations,” which could be impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.
California’s other significant airports also encountered issues, with both San Francisco and Los Angeles International Airport experiencing cancellations.
By Sunday evening, departures from Los Angeles and San Francisco faced delays affecting dozens of flights.
Despite some cancellations, TSA routes at LAX showed smoother operations, with checkpoints managing to process passengers relatively quickly.
Traveler Christopher Hochstuhl remarked, “All I can say is…I don’t know…we are the richest country in the world. We need to pay our workers. There’s no excuse for this.”
Another passenger, Michiko Romu, shared her experience of being in Los Angeles for a week, appreciating the city’s attractions while anticipating her flight back to Chicago.
She reflected positively on her experiences, noting that the TSA lines appeared manageable at that moment, pointing out, “I’m hopeful.”
Pleased with recent updates to the terminal infrastructure and operations at LAX, travelers described the airport as generally less chaotic.
Data released on Sunday highlighted that over 3,250 TSA employees were absent on Saturday, marking significant absenteeism during this partial government shutdown. The exodus accounted for about 11.51% of the scheduled workforce, further straining security protocols.
The national airport landscape faced notable delays, particularly impacting hubs like Atlanta’s Hartfield-Jackson, Houston, New York, and Philadelphia.
More unrest is anticipated as the week progresses, with the insertion of ICE officers expected to aggravate conditions.
On social media, the president stated that “ICE will be at the airport on Monday to help our wonderful TSA agents,” addressing concerns about funding breakdowns linked to political disputes.
While the specific airports targeted remain unclear, California is reportedly preparing for significant arrivals, as disruptions began to surface on Sunday.
Newsom expressed his outrage, stating that Trump is sending “his own private police force” to the airports. He criticized the president for utilizing ICE in this manner and emphasized that such actions were not based on legal principles but on political motives.
When asked about potential responses to ICE’s presence in California airports, the governor refrained from giving a direct answer.
In the face of the existing turmoil, TSA officials in San Diego echoed Newsom’s sentiment, describing the move as “ridiculous.” The operations chief expressed frustration at being unable to adequately support their personnel while maintaining duties under current obstacles.
Aaron Vazquez, the TSA’s chief of transportation security in San Diego, labeled the proposal impractical, questioning how ICE could contribute positively at the airport without creating a more intimidating atmosphere for travelers.
The weekend’s chaos affected countless flyers nationwide, as numerous flights faced delays and cancellations. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that the situation might worsen in the days ahead with further potential staff shortages.
He suggested that it could lead to more TSA agents not showing up for work or resigning altogether, signaling difficulties ahead.
