TSA Lines at Newark Liberty Airport EWR Fluctuate 2-25 Minutes as Shutdown Strains Security Amid ICE Help |
NEWARK, N.J. — Security lines at Newark Liberty International Airport have shown marked improvement in recent days, with many TSA checkpoints reporting waits of just 2 to 25 minutes as of early April 2026, even as the partial government shutdown continues to strain federal staffing nationwide. The Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at EWR, a major hub serving the New York metropolitan area, faced significant pressure in March due to the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. Roughly 1,000 TSA officers at the airport worked without pay for weeks, leading to higher callout rates, fatigue and long lines that at times stretched 2 to 4 hours during peak periods in mid-March.
Airport officials temporarily suspended real-time wait time reporting on the Newark Liberty website in late March, citing rapidly changing conditions based on passenger volumes and staffing levels. The site advised travelers to allow significantly more time and check with airlines for flight status. Wait time data has since partially resumed, providing variable but generally more manageable estimates. As of April 7, current data from the airport's website showed fluctuating waits across terminals. In Terminal A, general lines were listed as "No Wait" at some checkpoints, while Terminal B varied: 6 minutes at Gates 40-49, 24 minutes at Gates 51-57, and 16 minutes at Gates 60-68 for general screening. Terminal C reported around 2 minutes. TSA PreCheck lanes often moved faster, with waits as low as 1 to 2 minutes in several locations, though some PreCheck checkpoints in Terminal A and B remained closed or limited. Independent trackers and local reports indicated average waits between 10 and 25 minutes overall, with PreCheck and CLEAR users frequently clearing security in under 10 minutes. Peak morning and evening rushes saw occasional spikes toward 30 minutes, but conditions remained........