As government shutdown continues, more TSA agents calling out 'due to financial limitations'

close

Video

TSA: Airport screener call-outs have risen during the partial government shutdown

According to the Transportation Security Administration, many of their workers say the financial hardship of missing a paycheck make it difficult or impossible for them to report to work; Laura Ingle reports from La Guardia Airport in New York.

With the partial government shutdown nearing the one-month mark, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has seen a rise in “unscheduled absences” among employees – many for financial reasons.

TSA said Monday it has seen a rate of about 10 percent of unscheduled absences. In comparison, there was a rate of about 3 percent this time last year.

“Many employees are reporting that they are not able to report to work due to financial limitations,” the TSA said in a statement.

The government partially shuttered on Dec. 22, affecting about one-quarter of the government, as President Trump and Democrats remain steadfastly at an impasse over funding for a border wall. Some 800,000 federal employees have been off the job or forced to work without pay as the government remains closed.

PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN TIMELINE: FROM TRUMP’S DEMANDS TO DEMOCRATS’ PROPOSALS

TSA screeners missed paychecks last week although some are able to get $500 bonuses and received pay for working the first day of the shutdown, according to The Associated Press.

Despite the rise in employee absences, TSA stressed the national average wait times are within its normal range of about 30 minutes for standard lanes and 10 minutes for pre-check – although some airports had longer average times. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport had an average wait time of 45 minutes and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, had an average wait time of 12 minutes in pre-check, according to figures released by the TSA.

TSA staffing shortages plague airports amid partial government shutdown

New worries over airport security amid shutdown; reaction and analysis from security expert Aaron Cohen.

TSA SAYS SCREENING TIMES HAVEN’T SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY DESPITE TRAVELERS CLAIMING ‘NIGHTMARE’ CROWDS AND LONG LINES AMID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

“In coordination with airport and airlines partners, TSA continues to carry out its mission by optimizing resources, managing consolidation efforts and ensuring screening lanes are properly staffed,” it said. “Airports may exercise contingency plans due to call-outs and traveler volume in order to maintain effective security standards. Travelers should seek current airline and airport information and should allow enough time to get through the airport and board their flight.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

One security checkpoint was closed at the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Saturday due to staffing issues. However, an airport spokeswoman said there was “minimal if any” problems for customers and stressed it’s not unusual for TSA and BWI to open and close security checkpoints based on projected travel levels, flight schedules and security staffing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.