Impending U.S. Homeland Security Shutdown: Travel Delays Anticipated

Sun Feb 15 2026 01:02:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Major travel groups raise alarm over potential travel chaos as U.S. government faces a budget impasse that could affect homeland security resources.

As lawmakers struggle to reach a funding agreement, major travel organizations warn that a partial government shutdown could lead to significant delays at airports and longer security lines, particularly affecting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers who might be forced to work without pay. The looming deadline for funding could result in unscheduled absences among TSA personnel, exacerbating travel difficulties for spring breakers.

Major travel groups and airlines are pushing US lawmakers to reach a deal on government funding ahead of a partial shutdown, arguing it could lead to travel chaos during spring break.

Several groups, including Airlines for America, said in a joint statement that without a deal, the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers increased, causing flight delays and longer wait times.

Travellers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, they said.

A partial government shutdown is set to begin at midnight on Saturday after lawmakers failed to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In exchange for a funding deal, Democrats had been pushing for more restrictions on US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which will not be significantly affected by the shutdown because of funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.

Democrats have been demanding reforms after federal agents killed two Minneapolis residents during protests against the Trump administration's immigration raids in January.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats blocked two funding bills because the measures did not include the immigration reforms. The most recent funding measure passed at the end of January only funded the DHS for two weeks while lawmakers from both sides attempted to reach a deal on immigration reforms.

US President Donald Trump remarked, we'll see what happens when asked about the potential for a deal with Democrats to fund the DHS.

The shutdown is expected to affect several agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the US Coast Guard and TSA.

Last year, the US government saw its longest full shutdown in history, which lasted 43 days and resulted in many federal workers going without pay as well as flight chaos.

However, the partial shutdown is unlikely to cause as much travel chaos as last year's since the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic controllers, has already been funded for the rest of the year.

But TSA agents - who fall under the DHS - may have to go without pay if the shutdown drags on, meaning longer lines at the airport if workers call in sick.

Vice Admiral Thomas Allan indicated that the US Coast Guard could also be dramatically affected, with 56,000 workers possibly going unpaid.

The DHS has $165 billion from Trump's Act that could address some funding shortfalls but immediate changes are necessary to prevent disruptions as the situation continues to develop.