How long will I have to stand in line at U.S. Airport security during the partial government shutdown?

Partial Government Shutdown

A partial government shutdown occurs when lawmakers fail to pass funding bills, causing nonessential federal services to temporarily close and employees to be furloughed. Essential employees are required to work without pay. When there is a partial government shutdown, travelers to Washington, D.C. may see some impact, but with the passing of the majority of the appropriation bills, the effects on tourism should be minimal.

Major tourist attractions including National Parks and Smithsonian Museums and Institutions have secured funding through the end of September 2026. The Department of Homeland Security is not funded during the partial government shutdown which started at 12:01 AM on February 14, 2026. There are delays caused by the partial government shutdown including wait times increasing at airports in the United States.

Airport Security and the Transportation Security Administration

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for inspections and security before passengers board a plane at the estimated 440 airports in the United States, screening approximately 2 million passengers a day. An estimated 50,000–65,000 TSA employees are being asked to work without pay. During this partial shutdown, there have been 305 employee separations from the TSA between February 14, 2026, and March 9, 2026. As travel demand increases, especially in the spring months and the shutdown continues, there is a strong likelihood that security check-in wait times will increase.

My TSA App - Provides Estimated Wait Times at Airports

If you travel through airports in the United States, one of the biggest unknowns is how long you will spend waiting in the security line. One of the most widely used apps for this purpose is MyTSA, the official mobile application from the Transportation Security Administration. The app provides estimated security wait times at airports across the United States and allows travelers to see how busy an airport is expected to be at different times of the day and on different days of the week. This feature is particularly helpful for frequent travelers who want to choose the least crowded times to fly. In addition to wait time estimates, the app also allows users to report current wait times they experience, which helps improve the accuracy of the data for other travelers.

We do not now how long this partial government shutdown will last, but you can at least check your wait times to get an estimated time of how long you may have to wait in line with the MyTSA app.