The air travel situation in the U.S. is about to get much worse, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Thursday.
During an appearance on CNBC, Duffy said small airports could be forced to shut down because of TSA staffing shortages.
Due to the partial government shutdown, TSA employees are working without pay. They missed their first full paychecks last week after receiving only partial pay at the end of February
“As we get into next week, and they’re about to miss another payment, this is going to look like child’s play, what’s happening right now,” the secretary said. “You’re going to see small airports, I believe, shut down. You’re going to see extensive lines, and air travel is going to almost come to a stop.”
Travelers at several major airports have faced occasionally long lines over the past few weeks as a growing number of TSA agents call out of work or resign. Over 300 have departed the agency since the partial shutdown began.
A new wave of screening delays started Thursday, as spring break travelers looking to capitalize on the weekend headed to airports. Longer than average wait times were reported at Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston Bush, New York-JFK, Denver, and Austin, Texas.
Duffy told CNBC that the TSA call-out rate nationwide is averaging around 10%, which is five times the normal absentee rate. TSA agents are especially vulnerable to the effects of the shutdown because they are not highly paid, but must live in or near high-cost areas to get to work, he said.
The secretary also reiterated his call for Congress to end the partial shutdown and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, which TSA operates under.
