Washington, D.C.: A partial shutdown of the United States Department of Homeland Security has begun after lawmakers failed to approve new funding, leading to serious disruptions in travel screening and airport operations across the country.
The funding lapse has directly affected agencies responsible for travel security, particularly the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Most TSA employees are classified as essential workers and are required to continue working even though they are not receiving pay until Congress passes a new funding bill.
Airport authorities and airline officials have warned that the situation could result in longer queues at security checkpoints, slower passenger screening, and delays at major airports. With many TSA workers under financial pressure, there are concerns about staff shortages due to increased sick leave and low morale.
Several large airports have already reported longer wait times at security counters, especially during peak travel hours. Travellers have been advised to arrive earlier than usual to avoid missing flights.
While air traffic control services continue as normal because they are funded separately, the bottleneck at security screening points is expected to affect flight schedules. Missed connections and delayed departures are likely if the shutdown continues.
The shutdown is also affecting other homeland security functions such as disaster preparedness, cybersecurity coordination, and certain border related administrative services. Although border patrol and customs operations remain active, delays in passenger processing and background checks have been reported.
Airlines and travel industry groups have urged lawmakers to resolve the funding dispute quickly, warning that prolonged disruption could harm the tourism sector and create further economic losses.
With no immediate political agreement in sight, the shutdown is expected to continue for several days, raising uncertainty for millions of travellers across the United States.
