George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston exemplifies the severe disruptions to U.S. air travel caused by the ongoing partial government shutdown. Travelers encounter warnings of four-hour security wait times as numerous Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers skip shifts without pay.
Edgaer Fernando, en route to Guatemala, described his ordeal on Tuesday: “And we’ve been in this airport since 8 o’clock in the morning. Very tired, queuing and queuing and very slow.”
Record-High TSA Callout Rates in Houston
Both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport report some of the nation’s highest TSA absenteeism. Nationally, 11% of TSA workers missed shifts on Tuesday, but at Bush Intercontinental, nearly 40% stayed away. Hobby saw an even higher rate of 43%. Houston’s average callout hovers between 35% and 40%, according to Johnny Jones, secretary and treasurer for Council 100 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA workers.
Bush Intercontinental handles far more traffic, serving 48.4 million passengers in 2024 compared to Hobby’s 14.6 million. Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System, notes that 37 TSA checkpoint lanes typically operate, but only one-third to half function now. “We worry conditions will only get worse at airports across the U.S. until Congress ends this shutdown,” Szczesniak stated in a social media video on Tuesday.
TSA employees face mounting financial strain from last year’s shutdown, rising grocery and gas prices, leaving many exhausted, Jones explains. “There could be a million factors, but I can just tell you as simple as this: If everybody’s being paid, you wouldn’t have no lines,” Jones added.
Major Hub for United Airlines
As one of the busiest U.S. airports and a key United Airlines hub, Bush Intercontinental processed 34.8 million United passengers in 2024. “There’s high call outs, but it’s also the excessive origination point for a lot of flights,” Jones said. The airport likely faced staffing shortages pre-shutdown, with no new TSA hires nationwide in about a year.
Bustling March Boosts Passenger Volume
Spring break coincides with major events like World Baseball Classic games, CERAWeek energy conference drawing over 10,000 global participants, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracting 2.6 million visitors, and upcoming NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 games.
“While the delays are frustrating for travelers, they do not appear to be impacting tourism. In fact, Houston is experiencing the strongest month of March in terms of hotel rooms and reservations in the city’s history,” Mayor John Whitmire stated.
Wait times at Bush Intercontinental eased on Wednesday, dropping below two hours. Raj Chauhan, heading to Miami, remarked: “Everyone’s trying their best. And thanks to all the TSA members who are here.”
