TSA Administrator Warns Airports Might Quite Literally Shutdown' If Callout Rates Continue to Increase

"At this point, we're fully stretched. Frankly, there's not much else we can do. As the weeks continue, if this continues, it's not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if callout rates go up and we can't a lot of the officers can't afford to come in."

"We have a National Deployment Office force. We have fully depleted that. At this point, we're fully stretched. We're doing absolutely everything we can. There's not much else we can do without receiving funding and paying TSA agents."

"These are individuals living, like many Americans, paycheck to paycheck. This is the third shutdown over the past six months. We have individuals sleeping in their cars, unable to afford basic necessities for their families."

The partial government shutdown beginning February 14 has forced TSA agents to work without compensation, creating a critical staffing crisis. Over 366 TSA agents have resigned, and callout rates are increasing significantly. Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warned that airports, particularly smaller ones, could literally shut down if funding is not restored soon. The TSA has exhausted all available resources, including deploying its National Deployment Office force, and has no remaining alternatives. TSA employees face severe financial hardship, living paycheck to paycheck and unable to afford basic necessities like childcare. Stahl emphasized that this represents the third shutdown in six months, creating unsustainable conditions for federal employees.

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