Airports across the United States experienced significant delays over the weekend, with multiple major hubs reporting security wait times exceeding four hours as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security continued into its third week.

At JFK International Airport, passengers reported wait times of four to five hours at security checkpoints. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport reported a 153-minute wait time early Saturday morning, with the line wrapping around baggage claim. New Orleans International Airport and Chicago Midway also reported severe delays.

The disruptions come as TSA officers continue to report to work without pay during the funding gap. According to data reported by Daily Wire, call-out rates at major airports included Houston Hobby (47%), George Bush Intercontinental in Houston (42%), New Orleans International (34%), Atlanta (33%), JFK (33%), Baltimore (29%), Chicago Midway (29%), Pittsburgh (23%), Philadelphia (31%), and LaGuardia (17%).

What the Right Is Saying

Republicans have characterized the DHS shutdown as a political tactic designed to extract concessions on immigration policy. House Speaker's office and White House officials have argued that the shutdown harms American citizens and does nothing to address actual immigration enforcement concerns.

The Trump administration has noted that DHS received substantial funding through continuing appropriations, with ICE and Customs and Border Protection funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill passed last summer. Administration officials argue that Democrats are causing disruption to pressure the executive branch on issues that should be resolved through the appropriations process.

Conservatives have argued that Democrats are prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens by allowing airport security to degrade rather than passing funding bills. Republican lawmakers have called on Democrats to return to the negotiating table and fund the department without additional policy conditions.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers have framed the shutdown as necessary to prevent alleged abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Progressive advocates argue that ICE agents should be required to obtain judicial warrants before conducting arrests inside residences, rather than using administrative warrants approved within the executive branch.

Congressional Democrats have also called for restrictions on ICE enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals, as well as requirements that agents remove masks to increase transparency. Some progressive groups have characterized certain ICE operations as overreach, though these claims have been disputed.

A spokesperson for House Democrats said the party is seeking to protect civil liberties and ensure that immigration enforcement respects constitutional rights. The White House has called the shutdown politically motivated and accused Democrats of holding critical funding hostage to extract policy concessions on immigration enforcement.

What the Numbers Show

The $75 billion in funding for ICE and CBP through the One Big Beautiful Bill is expected to last several years, according to administration officials. However, TSA and other DHS components not covered by the continuing resolution have been operating without appropriated funding.

Social media reports from travelers provide anecdotal evidence of delays, with multiple posts showing extended security lines at major airports. The specific call-out rates for TSA personnel have been reported, though these figures could not be independently verified through official sources.

The partial shutdown affects approximately 30% of DHS personnel, though TSA officers are required to work without pay during funding gaps under existing law.

The Bottom Line

The partial DHS shutdown continues to affect air travel, with passengers at multiple major airports experiencing significant delays. Democrats argue the funding gap is necessary to force changes to ICE enforcement practices, while Republicans say it unnecessarily harms travelers and should be resolved through standard appropriations.

Negotiations continue as both sides remain far apart on policy conditions for funding. Travelers should check with individual airports for real-time wait times and consider arriving early for flights. The situation remains fluid as Congress works toward a funding agreement.