Hundreds Quit As Funding Dispute Causes Airport Chaos
The partial government shutdown has led to the resignation of hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, with 458 quitting since February 14, 2026. TSA employees have gone weeks without pay, leading to significant disruptions at airports, including huge queues and a 10% absentee rate among workers on March 23, 2026. The situation has been exacerbated by the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports, a move criticized by unions representing TSA workers. The newly sworn-in DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has stated that reopening the department is a top priority, according to AeroTime.