DHS shutdown forces 497 TSA officers to quit as paychecks stop

Byline: Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security shutdown triggered 497 Transportation Security Administration officers to quit their posts at airports nationwide through Jan 23.

The mass resignations doubled the agency’s normal attrition rate as officers worked 40-hour weeks without pay for 33 days, TSA Administrator David Pekoske told reporters.

The departures strained checkpoint staffing at major hubs during the busiest travel period since the pandemic. Congress created TSA after 9/11 to prevent terrorists from exploiting aviation systems.

TSA lost 2.1% of its 50,000-officer workforce in 33 days, Pekoske said. Normal monthly attrition runs 1%.

“We’re seeing officers leave for jobs that pay immediately,” Pekoske said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport led departures with 45 officers gone. Los Angeles International lost 41. Dallas/Fort Worth International saw 38 resignations, according to TSA data released Thursday.

Officers earn $35,000 to $43,000 annually. Many live paycheck to paycheck, union officials said.

“They can’t buy gas or pay rent,” Hydrick Thomas told reporters. Thomas leads the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council.

The shutdown began Dec 21 when President Donald Trump rejected a Senate bill funding DHS through February. Trump demanded $5.7 billion for a border wall with Mexico.

TSA officers worked as “essential” employees without pay. They missed two paychecks.

House Democrats passed bills reopening government Jan 3. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to bring them to a vote, saying Trump would veto them without wall funding.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the resignations showed Trump’s “callous disregard” for federal workers.

” real security crisis is losing trained officers,” Schumer told reporters.

The White House blamed Democrats for refusing to negotiate on border security.

“Democrats are playing politics with safety,” spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Airlines reported minimal delays despite staffing shortages. Carriers shifted departure times to reduce peak congestion, industry group Airlines for America said.

Average wait times stayed under 30 minutes at major airports, TSA data showed. Officers worked overtime to cover gaps.

“We’re managing with current staff,” Pekoske said.

But union leaders warned safety margins shrank. Atlanta’s main checkpoint closed twice last week when too few officers reported for duty, Thomas said.

“One sick call can shut down a terminal,” Thomas told reporters.

TSA hired 1,000 officers since October to prepare for summer travel. The shutdown stalled training for 300 new recruits at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Those classes resume only after funding resumes, Pekoske said.

Background

The federal government shut down 10 times since 1980 when Congress and presidents failed to agree on spending bills. The longest lasted 21 days in 1995-96 under President Bill Clinton.

TSA formed in November 2001 after terrorists hijacked 4 airliners using box cutters slipped past airport security. The agency federalized 28,000 private screeners across 424 airports.

Officers unionized in 2012 after Congress granted collective bargaining rights. They remained banned from striking like other federal law enforcement.

Previous shutdowns lasted days or weeks. The current closure became the longest in U.S. history Jan 12, surpassing the 1995-96 record.

What’s Next

Congress faces a Feb 15 deadline to reach a border deal or trigger another shutdown. House-Senate negotiators meet Wednesday to craft a compromise funding bill.

TSA plans accelerated hiring if government reopens. The agency budgeted for 600 new officers this year before the shutdown froze recruitment.

Airlines expect passenger traffic to rise 4% in 2019. Spring break travel begins in 6 weeks.

The departures compound TSA’s existing 10% officer shortage nationwide. The agency needs 6,000 more screeners to meet optimal staffing levels, according to a 2018 Homeland Security inspector general report.

Miami International Airport planned to close an entire terminal this weekend because 100 officers called out sick daily, airport officials said. The airport reversed course after TSA flew in 40 officers from other cities.

But travelers face longer lines if resignations accelerate, analysts said.

“Each officer who leaves takes 3 months of training with them,” said Jeffrey Price, an aviation security consultant.

Price warned security effectiveness drops when inexperienced officers replace veterans who recognize suspicious behaviors.

The union demanded back pay plus 25% hazard bonuses for officers who worked unpaid. Congressional Democrats introduced legislation granting lump-sum payments.

Republicans called the proposal dead on arrival, saying federal workers receive standard back pay after every shutdown.

“Nobody gets extra for doing their job,” Senator Ted Cruz told reporters.