DHS Officials to Brief Congress as Travel Delays Intensify Amid Shutdown
As travel disruptions deepen across the United States, House lawmakers are convening a critical hearing to examine the mounting impacts of the Homeland Security funding lapse. The session, scheduled for 10 a.m. ET, comes as senators race to finalise a proposal aimed at ending the shutdown that has paralysed key security operations.
Senators Pursue Partial Funding Deal
Senators are actively chasing a deal that would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, including Transportation Security Administration workers who have been going without pay. However, the proposed agreement notably excludes immigration operations, which have been at the core of the political dispute driving the shutdown.
TSA Administrator Details Alarming Callout Rates
Acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill revealed in prepared remarks for the hearing that multiple airports are experiencing callout rates exceeding 40%. This represents a dramatic increase from the 4% rate observed before the Homeland Security shutdown began, with the nationwide average now standing at 11%.
McNeill is expected to emphasise the personal toll the shutdown has taken on TSA employees, describing how some workers "are running out of options to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table." Her testimony details specific hardships including eviction notices, late fee charges, and loan defaults among the agency's workforce.
Security Risks and Passenger Disruptions Mount
The staffing crisis has led to wait times exceeding four hours at some airports, creating significant security vulnerabilities and causing numerous passengers to miss their flights. This situation is further exacerbated by a spring break travel surge that has overwhelmed the understaffed agency.
According to Department of Homeland Security data, at least 458 TSA officers have resigned entirely since the shutdown began, compounding the staffing shortages that have left U.S. airports jammed with lengthy queues.
Presidential Order Adds to Congressional Concerns
In response to the security gaps, President Donald Trump has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to provide airport security support. This move has alarmed some lawmakers who question the appropriateness of deploying immigration enforcement personnel in aviation security roles typically handled by trained TSA staff.
"TSA employees are dedicated public servants that want to continue to keep the traveling public safe and secure," McNeill stated in her prepared testimony, highlighting the commitment of workers even as they face severe financial hardship.
The hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security will feature testimony from McNeill alongside other agency heads within the Department of Homeland Security, all addressing the shutdown's cascading effects on national security and transportation systems.
