TSA workers are going without pay as shutdown drags on

Gavin Stone, The Virginian-Pilot on Oct 14, 2025

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All Transportation Safety Agency workers are working without pay as the government shutdown nears the two-week mark.

Some large airports across the country have reported delays and flight disruptions due to staffing delays. About 61,000 of TSA’s 64,000 employees across the country are being required to work during this period, according to a TSA spokesperson.

“So long as TSA workers continue to report for work, airports shouldn’t experience checkpoint delays,” Norfolk Airport spokesperson Chris Jones said in an email. “I won’t speculate on what could happen if that were to change, nor am I going to compare this situation versus (the 2018 government shutdown).”

Meanwhile, the airport has joined some others that have opted not to play a Department of Homeland Security video that blames Democrats for the shutdown.

“The Norfolk Airport Authority’s longstanding practice is to decline political messaging within its facilities,” Jones said. “We are hopeful those in Washington, D.C., will soon resolve this dispute for the benefit of all who are affected by it.”

The TSA spokesperson said the agency “has not experienced any delay in operations due to callouts,” adding that TSA “remains fully capable of facilitating safe and secure travel for passengers.”

“While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5 million passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” the spokesperson said. “We kindly ask for our passengers’ patience during this time. Despite this challenge, we will remain vigilant and focused on performing our vital security mission on behalf of the American people.”

The last paycheck TSA employees received since the shutdown was about 60-80% of their normal pay, depending on their days off, according to Mac Johnson, president of AFGE Local 449 — representing Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland — and vice president of TSA Council 100 Region 2.

Johnson, a 16-year U.S. Army veteran who retired from TSA in 2020, said some TSA workers resorted to donating blood plasma to pay bills during the 35-day shutdown in 2018.

“TSA employees will continue to come to work to perform the job for which they were hired, that is to protect the flying public ... until they have no more money for gas,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the union is encouraging their members to reach out to their respective members of Congress to ask them to pass a budget, but added that if it goes on for three weeks, “I do anticipate we’ll be organizing some rallies at these airports.”

The union is also working to connect workers in need to sources of food, diapers, hygiene items and housing support, according to Johnson.

“Be kind to those (TSA workers), they’re gonna have a smile on their face when they go to work but inside they’re torn up over the shutdown so I just ask the passengers to be kind to them and tell them ‘thank you for what you do,’” he said.

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