More than 400 TSA employees quit since shutdown began

More than 400 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit their jobs since the partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement that resignations and absences have skyrocketed since the department’s funding lapsed, as TSA officers report falling behind on bills as they continue to work without the promise of a paycheck anytime soon.

“This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit and thousands to call out from work because they are not able to afford gas, childcare, food, or rent,” Bis said in a statement to The Hill on Monday.

The departures from the workforce have strained airports, many of which have had to close unmanned TSA checkpoints, creating longer lines as fewer officers take on a greater workload.

The DHS shutdown began last month, after the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of immigration law enforcement compelled Democrats to refuse to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without first passing reforms. Republicans have pushed to fund the DHS in its entirety, rejecting Democratic efforts to separate out funding for ICE and CBP.

Trump on Sunday announced he was deploying ICE officials to help TSA officers at airports throughout the country as the security lines and staffing constraints worsened. 

“Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hours long lines at airports across the country—especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families,” Bis said in a statement.

“While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions,” she added.

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