Snaking Airport Lines Become Flashpoint in DHS Shutdown Debate

President Donald Trump and his administration blamed Democrats for longer airport security lines amid a partial government shutdown, as severe weather threatens to exacerbate passengers’ travel woes Monday.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said “crazed Democrats are not allowing TSA Agents to get paid.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy a day earlier said on social media platform X that travelers can “thank a Democrat” for longer-than-normal lines.

Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston on March 9.

Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg

The comments came after Transportation Security Administration workers missed their first full paycheck due to the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have refused to support ...