After a month of working without pay during a partial government shutdown, TSA officers have finally started receiving paychecks following President Trump’s emergency fund redirection. This has led to a significant reduction in security wait times at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports, though Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents remain deployed to assist with staffing gaps.
The partial government shutdown that began in late February 2026 placed immense strain on Transportation Security Administration operations nationwide. Classified as essential personnel, TSA officers were required to work without pay, leading to financial hardship, increased absenteeism, and a surge in security wait times at major hubs like Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports.
On March 27, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an order redirecting funds from the Department of Homeland Security to cover TSA salaries, providing a temporary reprieve. According to USA TODAY, TSA officers began seeing paychecks as early as March 31, alleviating immediate financial pressures.
This intervention has directly impacted traveler experience. Real-time data from FlightQueue shows that security wait times at O’Hare have dropped to an average of less than 15 minutes as of March 31. However, disparities exist across terminals:
- Terminals 2 and 3: Approximately 5 minutes
- Terminal 5: Around 60 minutes
Immigration wait times at O’Hare remain elevated, averaging 30 to 45 minutes. At Midway, both security and immigration lines are reporting averages under 15 minutes, indicating a swifter recovery for the smaller airport.
Despite the pay restoration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents remain deployed at airports, including O’Hare, to supplement TSA staffing. Border Czar Tom Homan stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” that ICE officers may stay longer depending on TSA workforce levels, emphasizing their role in maintaining security.
Travelers should note that the MyTSA mobile app and the agency’s official wait-time tracker are still offline due to the shutdown. For current updates, passengers are advised to check individual airport websites or use third-party tools like FlightQueue. To minimize delays, experts recommend arriving before 7 a.m. and avoiding peak hours between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The underlying issue remains unresolved: Congress has yet to approve long-term funding for TSA, and lawmakers are on a scheduled recess. This temporary fix via executive action underscores the political gridlock that could lead to future disruptions. Historically, government shutdowns have repeatedly impacted TSA operations, with similar staffing crises and traveler delays occurring during past budgetary impasses.
Public discourse now centers on the ethics of using ICE agents for TSA duties, blurring lines between security screening and immigration enforcement. While immediate wait times have improved, the continued presence of ICE raises questions about resource allocation and the normalization of emergency measures in airport security.
As the situation evolves, travelers must stay informed through reliable channels. The restoration of pay is a critical step, but without permanent legislative solutions, the stability of airport security remains precarious. The deployment of ICE agents, though intended as a stopgap, may set a precedent for future responses to funding gaps.
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