Homeland Security estimates show substantial absentee rates among TSA officers, with roughly 38% out at several major airports on a given day, and some locations reporting 33% to 25% absences.

Experts advise travelers to check conditions early and often, planning for rapid changes and minimal buffer time before flights.

If lines are long, travelers should ask checkpoint staff for wait times and assistance and consider contacting airlines to explore rebooking options to avoid missing flights.

Travelers are experiencing altered security flow and longer potential wait times, though Philadelphia remains relatively less disrupted than airports like New York or Los Angeles.

Looking ahead, the situation is expected to stay fluid as long as the shutdown continues, requiring travelers to stay informed and adapt plans as needed.

Typical check-in and immigration times are provided for each airport, with TSA PreCheck lane estimates where relevant.

If a passenger misses a flight due to long lines, refunds are not guaranteed, so it’s prudent to build in extra time.

A partial government shutdown has strained TSA staffing since mid-February, leaving about 50,000 agents unpaid and contributing to unpredictable and longer wait times at airports.

Florida airport wait times are being tracked from multiple sources, with real-time monitoring methods suggested via airport sites, social media, MyTSA app, and third-party trackers.

Philadelphia International Airport temporarily closed TSA checkpoints at Terminal A-West and Terminal F as of March 18, 2026, following earlier closures at Terminal C.

Security wait times have varied, with mornings sometimes showing waits up to 90 minutes, though early-arrival travelers have reported shorter waits.

SRQ participates in the TSA Screening Partnership Program to help keep checkpoints staffed during the shutdown, with advice to arrive two hours before departure.