Travelers at many of the nation's busiest airports faced significant delays at TSA security checkpoints Tuesday as the partial government shutdown entered its fifth week, driving up officer call-out rates and forcing some facilities to advise passengers to arrive three to four hours early for domestic flights.

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Real-time and airport-reported data showed the longest lines at hubs in the South and Northeast, where staffing shortages compounded spring break travel demand. While some checkpoints reported waits under 30 minutes, others stretched beyond two hours, with isolated reports approaching three to four hours at peak times. The official MyTSA app displayed historical estimates due to reduced federal oversight, making airport websites and crowd-sourced trackers more reliable for current conditions.

The top 30 busiest U.S. airports, ranked primarily by 2025 passenger traffic and operations data from the FAA and Airports Council International, include major hubs such as Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), New York JFK, Orlando (MCO), Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX), Charlotte (CLT), Houston Bush (IAH), Boston (BOS), Minneapolis (MSP), Detroit (DTW), Philadelphia (PHL), Newark (EWR), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Baltimore (BWI), Salt Lake City (SLC), Washington Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), San Diego (SAN), Tampa (TPA), St. Louis (STL), Honolulu (HNL), Austin (AUS) and Houston Hobby (HOU).

As of midday Tuesday, March 24, 2026, here is a summary of reported TSA wait times drawn from airport websites, traveler reports and monitoring services. Conditions fluctuate rapidly by terminal, checkpoint and time of day, with standard lanes generally longer than TSA PreCheck.

**Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL)** — The world's busiest airport advised passengers to allow at least four hours for security. Some domestic checkpoints reported waits of 90 to 180 minutes earlier in the day, with officials noting persistent staffing issues. PreCheck lanes occasionally closed or moved slowly.

**Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)** — Wait times varied by checkpoint, ranging from 2 to 25 minutes in some terminals to over 30 minutes in others. Overall, the airport appeared smoother than Southern peers but still urged extra time during peak hours.

**Denver (DEN)** — Lines remained relatively manageable, with many checkpoints reporting 3 to 15 minutes. Some travelers experienced up to 30 minutes during morning rushes, but the airport avoided the multi-hour delays seen elsewhere.

**Chicago O'Hare (ORD)** — Delays hovered around 30 to 60 minutes at busy checkpoints, with occasional reports of hour-long waits. The airport has managed better than some hubs but recommended arriving early amid national staffing strains.

**Los Angeles (LAX)** — Waits were short at many checkpoints, often 2 to 15 minutes according to airport data and traveler updates. Terminal variations existed, but LAX generally ranked among the smoother large airports Tuesday.

**New York JFK** — Lines averaged 30 to 45 minutes across terminals, with some checkpoints reaching 60 minutes. Officials warned that times could change quickly and encouraged use of PreCheck or CLEAR where available.

**Orlando (MCO)** — Popular with spring break families, the airport saw waits near 30 minutes at several points, though not the extreme delays reported in prior days.

**Las Vegas (LAS)** — Moderate lines of 15 to 40 minutes were common, reflecting high tourist traffic without the severe shortages hitting some East Coast and Southern facilities.

**Miami (MIA)** — International and domestic checkpoints reported 20 to 45 minutes, with occasional spikes near 60 minutes.

**Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)** — Many checkpoints stayed under 20 minutes, though one or two reached 21 minutes according to live trackers.

**San Francisco (SFO)** — Generally efficient, with waits often 10 to 30 minutes depending on the terminal.

**Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)** — Short lines of 5 to 25 minutes dominated, making it one of the better-performing large airports.

**Charlotte Douglas (CLT)** — Longer-than-normal waits of 30 to 60 minutes were reported, with some terminals advising extra caution.

**Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)** — One of the hardest-hit airports, with reports of 120 to 150 minutes or more at certain checkpoints. Travelers described lines stretching outside terminals earlier in the week, though conditions improved slightly by Tuesday afternoon in some areas.

**Boston Logan (BOS)** — Waits typically ranged from 15 to 40 minutes, with variability across terminals.

Smaller or mid-tier airports in the top 30, such as Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Washington airports, San Diego, Tampa, St. Louis, Honolulu and Austin, generally reported waits from 10 to 45 minutes, though Houston Hobby and New Orleans (often grouped in broader discussions) continued to see spikes up to two or three hours on some days.

The surge in delays stems from elevated TSA officer call-out rates, which have climbed dramatically during the shutdown — sometimes exceeding 20% at affected airports compared with a normal rate below 2%. Some facilities temporarily closed checkpoints or PreCheck lanes, exacerbating bottlenecks. Spring break travel has added pressure, particularly at leisure-oriented hubs.

TSA and airport officials urged passengers to check real-time data before heading to the airport. Reliable sources include individual airport websites, which often display live checkpoint times; the MyTSA app (though its estimates rely on historical data during the shutdown); and third-party trackers such as AirlineAirport.com or crowd-sourced platforms. Many airports also post updates on social media.

Travelers with TSA PreCheck, CLEAR or Global Entry generally experienced shorter lines, but even those lanes faced occasional closures or slowdowns due to staffing. Experts recommend arriving at least three hours early for domestic flights at major hubs and four hours for international departures until conditions stabilize.

The Department of Homeland Security has deployed additional resources where possible, but prolonged funding issues continue to strain operations. Smaller airports could face temporary closures if shortages worsen, though the top 30 busiest facilities remained open Tuesday.

For those flying today, flexibility remains key. Monitor flight status alongside security waits, pack lightly to speed screening, and consider alternative transportation to the airport if lines appear unmanageable. Airlines have offered some flexibility with rebooking amid widespread delays.

As the shutdown persists, conditions at the nation's busiest airports are expected to remain challenging through the week. Travelers are encouraged to stay informed via official channels and build ample buffer time into their plans to avoid missing flights.