In what the Department of Homeland Security called “great news for air travel” and what TSA officers called “the bare minimum,” the agency announced Friday that Transportation Security Administration employees who have been working without pay for several weeks due to a partial government shutdown will finally begin receiving paychecks as early as Monday, March 30. The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief, then immediately began worrying about its 3.5-ounce liquid containers.
TSA agents, who continued to report for duty and screen millions of passengers throughout the ordeal because their jobs are considered essential, reportedly reacted to the news with what one union official described as “cautious optimism and several very strong opinions about their employer.” Airport delays caused by low morale and staff shortages are expected to improve significantly, though experts warn travelers should still arrive approximately three business days before any domestic flight, just to be safe.
The announcement came amid a partial government shutdown that has affected multiple federal agencies, though TSA sources confirmed this is not the first time they have worked unpaid, nor do they expect it will be the last. Several agents said they planned to celebrate receiving their back pay by immediately spending it on parking near the airports where they work, which industry analysts noted would consume approximately 94% of the amount owed.
“We are incredibly grateful to our officers for their professionalism and dedication during this difficult time,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the agency looks forward to once again treating airport security as a serious priority “once this whole thing blows over.” An unnamed TSA officer at O’Hare responded: “Please return your trays to the belt and remove your shoes.”
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