TSA Lines at Phoenix Sky Harbor Drop Under 10 Minutes as Terminal 4 Checkpoints Fully Reopen Amid Shutdown |
PHOENIX (AP) — TSA security lines at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have stabilized with most wait times dropping under 10 minutes and all Terminal 4 checkpoints now reopened, offering relief to travelers amid the ongoing partial government shutdown that strained operations in March 2026. The Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at one of the nation's busiest airports faced significant pressure from staffing shortages triggered by the Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. TSA officers, classified as essential workers, continued reporting for duty without paychecks, leading to higher callout rates, fatigue and temporary checkpoint closures.
At the peak of the disruption in late March, some lines at Sky Harbor stretched longer than usual, with reports of waits reaching up to 30 minutes during busy periods. On March 20, Terminal 4 checkpoints B and D shut down entirely — the first such closures since the shutdown began — forcing passengers into fewer lanes and prompting frustration among flyers navigating spring travel. "Get to the airport extra early," became a common warning shared on social media and local news outlets as travelers posted images of crowded queues. Many described never seeing security lines so long at Sky Harbor, especially during morning rushes when passengers arrived for early flights only to encounter unexpected delays. To mitigate the shortages, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to Sky Harbor and other major U.S. airports starting around March 23. The federal immigration officers assisted with non-screening tasks such as guarding exit lanes, verifying passenger IDs and managing crowd flow, freeing TSA screeners to focus on core security duties. Signs at checkpoints notified travelers of the additional Department of Homeland Security support. Border Czar Tom Homan stated that ICE agents would remain at the airport until TSA operations fully........