MIAMI — Frustration is growing at South Florida airports as TSA agents miss paychecks during a partial government shutdown, while long lines and delays continue during the busy spring break travel season.
At Miami International Airport, Feeding South Florida has launched a weekly food distribution site to help impacted federal employees and their families.
“We see ourselves doing this at least weekly,” said Paco Vélez of Feeding South Florida.
Vélez said the effort comes as many workers struggle financially.
“And now with the fuel prices going up, as well as paychecks not going out, a lot of families are really struggling and we hope that it ends pretty soon,” he said.
He added the goal is to ensure TSA agents, who continue working without pay, don’t go without meals.
“This is with all the news going on in the world and in this country. It’s really easy for folks to forget about the DHS shutdown and the TSA agents who are not only protecting our airlines but also missing meals,” Vélez said. “So for us to be here, it’s really important to make sure that folks have something to eat.”
Read an open letter to Congress from US airline CEO’s by clicking here.
Meanwhile, long screening lines are testing travelers’ patience at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, reminiscent of disruptions seen during past shutdowns.
“We spent hours and hours in line,” one traveler said.
Still, many passengers expressed sympathy for TSA workers.
“Oh, they should absolutely be paid. This is ridiculous,” said Lynn LeBlanc, who spoke to Local 10 from Miami International Airport. “Why don’t we have a system in place to pay them while Congress gets their stuff together? I mean, you don’t want your paycheck taken away? Your reserves only last for so long, if you have any, right?”
“I feel like everybody should get their paychecks. They deserve their money,” said Miguel Espinal, an air traveler who said he has been stuck in Miami for days after multiple canceled flights.
“Airports are crazy, all getting stuck from spring break. I’ve been stuck here in Miami for three days,” Espinal added.
Another traveler at Fort Lauderdale said, “Given what the TSA employees have to go through right now, it is hard to get too bitter about all of these things because I know that they are in a really tough spot.”
Airline CEOs are also weighing in, urging Congress to act.
In an open letter, several U.S. airline leaders described air travel as a “political football” and called on lawmakers to “move forward with bipartisan proposals,” warning that with spring break underway and the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, “stakes are especially high.”
Vélez said despite the challenges, TSA agents continue to show up.
“Many of them are still showing up to work knowing they’re not going to get paid, but trying to make sure that they’re keeping our airlines safe,” he said. “So we ask that we treat everybody with kindness and recognize that we’re all neighbors here.”
In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said attrition among Transportation Security Officers has increased, with 366 officers leaving the workforce.
The statement also includes partisan remarks from what is historically a nonpartisan agency.
The agency did not provide a timeframe for that number or specify why those employees left.
During last year’s government shutdown, critics accused the Trump administration of using federal agencies for propaganda purposes.
“This looks like a naked violation of the Hatch Act,” said Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland last year, “which forbids partisan activity in the federal workplace.”
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