Atlanta airport waits decrease although TSA morale reportedly low
Officials continue to monitor airport lines amid ICE presence
Wait lines have slightly decreased at the Atlanta airport after federal immigration agents were sent to assist TSA employees amid a staffing shortage. However, the Houston airport is still seeing long waits.
ATLANTA - Security wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport continue to fluctuate as staffing shortages linked to the ongoing government shutdown impact operations.
Officials say thousands of travelers are still dealing with delays, as TSA agents work without pay. The situation has led to unpredictable lines, with long waits returning during peak morning hours but easing again shortly before noon on Tuesday.
Passengers at Atlanta's airport continued to see multiple Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security investigators walking around the terminal on Tuesday.
RELATED: ICE agents at Atlanta airport in supporting role
What we know:
Passengers on Tuesday morning reported shorter wait times compared to earlier in the week, with some saying it took about 30 minutes to reach the main security checkpoint — a significant improvement from the hours-long waits seen Monday. Still, lines remained long during peak morning travel hours.
The delays stem from shortages among Transportation Security Administration agents, which officials say contributed to backups at one of the world’s busiest airports.
What they're saying:
Travelers described confusion navigating the lines, especially when trying to determine the correct checkpoint.
"It was a lot of confusion trying to get to this point," one passenger said. "The second you get out of the car, you don’t know where to go and what to do."
Some travelers said they showed up much earlier than usual to account for the uncertainty, even waiting inside the terminal before they could check bags.
"It’s better to be here as early as possible," one traveler said.
To address the issue, additional law enforcement officers have been deployed at the airport, including Atlanta police and federal immigration officers. The increased presence follows direction from President Donald Trump to assist TSA operations.
The move prompted protests Monday afternoon outside the airport, where dozens gathered to oppose the presence of immigration enforcement officers. However, some travelers said they welcomed any help to improve security lines.
"To be safe, I’m glad they’re here," another passenger said.
By the numbers:
Airport officials are urging travelers to arrive at least four hours before their scheduled flights as delays continue.
The federal government shutdown, which began in mid-February, has already led to more than 400 TSA workers quitting nationwide, further straining airport operations.
New data from TSA shows the extent of the staffing issues, with about 37.4% of TSA agents at Atlanta’s airport not reporting to work on Monday.
Dig deeper:
George Borek, a steward for the American Federation of Government Employees, TSA Local 554, said the morale among employees at the Atlanta airport is low.
"It was unconscionable to have these lines snaking through, down the sides, through the baggage claim and out the doors, but we only had so many officers to do the screening the proper way," Borek said.
Borek said the ICE agents are not trained to check people through security.
"If you put someone in class on April 1, those officers will not be ready until September," he said. "I don't know what they can do. Our job descriptions are two separate different things."
Passengers and the union are urging Congress to end the partial government shutdown.
"They do a great job with what they're doing, and they're more victims of some things in high places than they are the problem," traveler Keith Elder said.
"It's stressful on us. It's stressful on the flying public, and again, the flying public does not deserve that. We're better than that," Borek said.