Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers check luggages passing through a x-ray scanner as passengers go through security in Terminal 7 of Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, on March 23, 2026. —Etienne Laurent—Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesAs the partial government shutdown continues to drag on, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning that more than 1,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit their jobs, and that it will soon run out of money to pay department staffers.“Ahead of the FIFA World Cup and summer travel, this loss has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and left critical gaps in staffing, as each new recruit requires 4-6 MONTHS of training,” DHS said in a post on X on Monday evening.The shutdown, which began on Feb. 14 amid a standoff between Democratic and Republican lawmakers over immigration enforcement, is the longest in American history. The lapse in funding previously left many DHS employees—including TSA agents—working without pay for weeks. Since TSA agents are deemed essential workers, they are expected to continue working during a lapse in appropriations, even if they’re not being paid. But many TSA officers called out of work last month so they could pick up additional jobs to pay their bills and hundreds more left their jobs at the agency entirely, leaving airports around the U.S. understaffed.Amid the shortage of TSA agents, airports across the country reported hours-long security wait times last month—one of the most visible effects of the shutdown.Other agencies within DHS have also…
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