As the government shutdown enters its second month and comes close to being the longest shutdown in U.S. history, airports across the country are feeling the impact.
In addition to air traffic controller shortages, the travel industry has been dealing with the strongest storm in Jamaica’s history, Hurricane Melissa, forcing several airlines, including American Airlines (AAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) to cancel flights.
In short, October was not the best time for air travel in the United States.
While Hurricane Melissa has transitioned to a post‑tropical (extratropical) cyclone over the North Atlantic and flights to Jamaica have resumed, TSA agents continue to work without pay.
Even at the beginning of the shutdown, when TSA workers were still working on their last paycheck, Vice President of America Federal Government Employees Council 100/TSA Region 7 Joe Shuker warned of possible consequences.
Shuker told MSNBC that the longer the shutdown lasts and agents are not getting paid, the greater the chances they’ll start calling in sick.
While the shortage of TSA agents and air traffic controllers is a serious problem for airport operations, issues persist even when they do show up during the shutdown.
According to Shuker, the biggest concern is managing a high-stress job, which includes looking for bombs and weapons, while being under additional pressure of not receiving a paycheck.
“Every day becomes a high risk… because people are stressed out,” he said.
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TSA wait times may exceed 60 minutes at Houston airports
On Sunday, November 2, 2025, the two Houston airports had significant waiting lines, as the government shutdown entered its 33rd day.
Travelers flying from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are encouraged to arrive much earlier than usual as TSA wait times surpass three hours, reported Fox 26 Houston.
Bush Airport posted the following warning on X:
“UPDATE: TSA wait times may exceed 3 hours. We ask that passengers continue to arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the federal government shutdown is resolved.”
Per the official message, only TSA checkpoints at Terminal A and Terminal E are open. Those who fly United should check their bags at Terminal C and then proceed to Terminal E for security screening.
William P. Hobby Airport is also experiencing disruptions, with TSA wait times exceeding 60 minutes and officials advising travelers to arrive early.
Hobby Airport posted on the following notice on X:
“Heads up, travelers! TSA wait times may exceed 60 minutes. Arriving early gives you time to park, check your bags, and get through security. We appreciate your patience as our federal partners work to keep everyone safe.”
Houston Airports thanks travelers for arriving early and being patient
Addressing the current disruptions and long wait times at these two airports, Houston Airports released a statement expressing gratitude to travelers who arrive early and show patience and understanding toward TSA agents.
Houston Airports stated:
”We sincerely thank our passengers for arriving early and for their patience and flexibility during this challenging time. The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, AND Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keep passengers moving safely and efficiently. We ask that passengers continue to arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the federal government shutdown is resolved.”
Newark airport in New Jersey also experiencing delays of 2 to 3 hours
TSA agents across the country are affected by the shutdown in the same way, deprived of their salary. More airports across the country are just starting to feel the damaging impact, as airport workers enter the first month of working without pay.
Newark Airport in New Jersey is also experiencing delays of two to three hours, writes the Associated Press.
Related: TSA union leader warns Americans about new security risks
New York City’s Emergency Management office said on X (formerly Twitter) that Newark delays can have a gradual and widespread effect across the region’s other airports.
“Newark Airport is under a ground delay program today because of staffing shortages in the control tower. Arrivals are being limited to as few as 20 planes per hour through this afternoon, with higher rates later tonight. The average delay is about 2 hours, and some flights are more than 3 hours late. FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases.”
According to official notice, flyers traveling from or through New York should “expect schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections. Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits.”
Thousands of flight delays and hundreds of cancellations
The three airports are not alone in experiencing delays, as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare also had dozens of delays and one or two cancellations, along with airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, reports The Associated Press, citing data from FlightAware.
As of the evening of Nov. 2, there were 5,648 total delays within, into, or out of the United States and 244 cancellations, not all related to controller shortages, according to FlightAware.
At the time of writing, there were 536 delays and 50 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States.
The FAA urged lawmakers to end the shutdown, and in a statement, stressed that air traffic controllers are under “immense stress and fatigue.”
“The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they’ve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays. As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety. When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.”
For real-time updates, the FAA advised travelers to visit http://nasstatus.faa.gov and check with your airline before going to the airport.
U.S. Transportation Secretary says delays are necessary to maintain safety
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained that the flight disruptions are necessary to to ensure safety amid air traffic controller shortages. Duffy also warned that the longer airport workers go without pay, the more delays and cancellations we can anticipate.
“We work overtime to make sure the system is safe. And we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to make sure the system is safe,” Duffy said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
Duffy added that he has no intention of terminating air traffic controllers who are not coming to work.
“Again, when they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers,” Duffy said. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.”
Even before the government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration was already facing a shortage of around 3,000 air traffic controllers, writes the Associated Press.
Key takeaways on flight delays, cancellations during government shutdown:
- Flyers should check their flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer wait times.
- TSA wait times at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) could exceed 60 minutes.
- TSA wait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) could exceed 3 hours.
- Newark airport in New Jersey is experiencing delays of 2-3 hours.
