(HOUSTON, TEXAS) Travelers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport spent much of this week inching through long lines as TSA workers missed shifts after missing paychecks, prompting warnings of security wait times that could stretch to three hours. The airport confirmed only two TSA checkpoints remain open, a sharp cut that created bottlenecks during the morning and evening rush.
At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported broad staffing gaps among air traffic controllers, a one-two punch that slowed both the ground screening process and the flow of planes into the sky. Families with strollers, business travelers, and airline crew all queued in the same snaking lines at Terminals A and E—currently the only places to clear security—while airlines urged people to arrive far earlier than normal or risk missing flights.
What officials are saying and guidance to travelers
Airport officials were blunt: the longer the federal shutdown drags on, the worse conditions will become. Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said the airport is trying to keep operations moving despite federal staffing gaps.
“The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, and Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keep passengers moving safely and efficiently,” Szczesniak said. He asked passengers to “arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the government reopens,” adding that conditions can change quickly as teams reassign scarce personnel.
The airport has consolidated screening to two hubs, with TSA PreCheck and CLEAR still operating there, but the reduced number of open lanes continues to swell the lines.
Current wait times and operational impacts
- By midweek, advisories cautioned that TSA wait times may exceed 60 to 75 minutes, with several peak periods seeing waits close to three hours.
- Real-time dashboards showed averages in the 38–53 minute range during rush periods, but those estimates rose sharply whenever more screeners called out.
- The FAA tied 84% of recent flight delays to staffing issues among controllers.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy described the dilemma for federal staff:
“They’re confronted with a decision: do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent or do I go to work and not get paid? They’re making decisions.”
How airport layout and airline operations amplified delays
The checkpoint consolidation was magnified by terminal layout and airline routing:
- United Airlines, the dominant carrier at IAH, asked customers to check baggage at Terminal C and then transfer to Terminal E for screening because United doesn’t have a ticketing counter at Terminal A. That extra step added time and confusion.
- Houston Airports urged travelers to use both the Subway and Skyway systems to reach the two open checkpoints regardless of starting terminal.
- With only Terminals A and E screening, flow moved in fits and starts; tempers flared as families tried to rebook missed connections.
Practical tips the airport repeated:
– Arrive as early as possible.
– Check with your airline before heading to the airport.
– Follow basic screening prep: empty water bottles ahead of time and keep laptops accessible.
– Consult TSA guidance at tsa.gov.
FAA response and flight reductions
To maintain safety with fewer controllers, the FAA announced schedule cuts in 40 high-traffic markets by 10% starting Friday, November 8, 2025.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford: reductions were “necessary to keep the flying public safe despite a shortage of air traffic controllers.”
- Secretary Duffy warned the agency will “stop traffic” before an emergency if staffing dips further — meaning fewer flights, larger gaps between departures and arrivals, and longer days for travelers.
Human toll and staff coping strategies
Missed paychecks affected lives beyond the airport floor:
- TSA officers and FAA employees reported taking side jobs, borrowing money, or skipping work because they could not afford the commute.
- Duffy said while many could manage one missed paycheck, “virtually all” would struggle if a second went unpaid.
- A Houston TSA officer (speaking anonymously) described colleagues choosing between child care and showing up at 4 a.m. for unpaid shifts. “People are proud of the work,” the officer said, “but there’s only so much you can ask when folks can’t pay their bills.”
Contingency measures and coordination
Airlines and airport agencies implemented contingency moves to keep operations running:
- Houston Airports kept communication channels open with airlines and federal partners.
- Carriers adjusted schedules to match FAA’s planned reductions.
- Passengers received direct messages about delays or cancellations, though last-minute changes still caused gate-area scrambles.
VisaVerge.com analysis highlighted that coordinated messaging is now as important as staffing because many travelers arrive with outdated assumptions about lane openings and average screening times. Consolidating checkpoints helps marshal scarce personnel but creates visible choke points that increase anxiety.
Operational adjustments during peak periods
Behind the scenes, daily coordination determines responses for each peak period:
- Review staffing numbers with TSA field leaders and FAA traffic managers.
- If a shift is short, choose one of:
- Hold flights on the ground longer to space arrivals.
- Pull staff from administrative roles to screening.
- Reassign officers between baggage and screening as needed.
Each choice has trade-offs: stretching one team often means cutting back elsewhere. By late afternoon—when lines typically swell—the system frequently relies on workers who started before sunrise.
What travelers can do
- Arrive earlier than normal.
- Check airline messages for last-minute updates.
- Use Subway and Skyway to reach Terminals A and E as needed.
- Consider carrying on bags to skip Terminal C check-in where possible.
- Follow TSA screening tips: remove liquids, have laptops ready, wear easy-to-remove footwear.
Outlook and final note
The days ahead hinge on whether federal pay resumes and whether sick calls taper among TSA screeners and controllers. If not, the 10% flight reduction may be extended or expanded, which would stabilize airspace but worsen rebookings for travelers.
Houston’s current plan—consolidate screening, move people via Subway and Skyway to open checkpoints, and keep the public informed—is designed for endurance rather than speed, prioritizing safety while staffing remains uncertain.
The sight of long lines has become routine at IAH, a visual reminder of how missing paychecks for federal workers translate into longer security wait times, delayed flights, and a travel day that often starts with a sigh before the first bag is even checked.
This Article in a Nutshell
At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, missed paychecks for TSA staff reduced open screening to Terminals A and E, creating long lines and wait times up to three hours. Concurrent FAA controller shortages slowed flights; the FAA tied 84% of recent flight delays to staffing gaps and plans a 10% schedule cut in 40 high-traffic markets starting November 8, 2025. Officials advise arriving early, checking airline notices, and using internal transit systems. Outlook depends on restoring federal pay and reducing sick calls.
