WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. ET Wednesday to examine how the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse is affecting Transportation Security Administration operations. Ha Nguyen McNeill, acting administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, will testify alongside other Department of Homeland Security agency heads about the shutdown's impact.
Daily callout rates from officers scheduled to report for duty increased from 4% before the Homeland Security shutdown to 11% nationwide, according to prepared remarks. Multiple airports are experiencing callout rates greater than 40%, according to prepared remarks.
At least 458 Transportation Security Administration officers have quit, according to DHS. President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to provide airport security.
Security lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport have travelers waiting four hours or more, said Jim Szczesniak. TSA is staffing only one-third to one-half of the usual number of checkpoint lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport during the busy spring travel season, he said.
Hundreds of airport employees from finance, IT and maintenance have been temporarily reassigned to help manage security lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, he said. Szczesniak said the current staffing arrangement cannot continue indefinitely and that conditions at airports across the U.S. could worsen until Congress ends the shutdown.
"Stop asking me about the long lines. Ask me if somebody's gonna eat today." said Hydrick Thomas, president of the national American Federation of Government Employees union council representing TSA employees, in comments to reporters Tuesday.
A dispute in Congress over funding the Department of Homeland Security has held up Transportation Security Administration officers' salaries since mid-February. Tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers are set to receive no pay this week.
A Transportation Security Administration officer in Indiana postponed dental surgery because she could not afford the copay. A Transportation Security Administration officer couple in Florida with young children is depleting their savings. A Transportation Security Administration officer and grandmother in Idaho plans to sell her car to pay rent. Some Transportation Security Administration workers have received eviction notices, according to prepared remarks. Some have been charged late fees and defaulted on loans, according to prepared remarks.
"TSA employees are dedicated public servants that want to continue to keep the traveling public safe and secure, but they are running out of options to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table." McNeill said, according to prepared remarks.
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