Incredibly long lines continue to plague John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, creating significant travel disruptions for passengers.

Airport Delays Linked to Government Shutdown

The ongoing chaos is occurring as Congress began a two-week recess this week during a partial government shutdown. Unions and elected officials are calling for accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers to be paid.

Bipartisan Deal Rejected

Lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, had pushed for a bipartisan Senate deal to reopen the TSA, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard. However, House Republicans rejected the proposal on March 27, 2026.

Jeffries directly blamed Republicans for the continuing shutdown and the resulting airport issues. “Mr. Speaker, we believe that immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just, and humane. That’s not what’s happening right now. ICE is out of control,” Jeffries stated on the House floor.

He further argued that the rejected legislation did not aim to defund ICE, pointing to the agency’s substantial funding – $75 billion – alongside $65 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and $165 billion for the Department of Homeland Security overall.

Criticism of Speaker Johnson

Jeffries accused Speaker Mike Johnson of prioritizing political maneuvering over the needs of travelers and TSA employees. “Mike Johnson has chosen to say no to a bipartisan bill so he could say yes to continuing to force TSA agents to work without pay,” Jeffries said. He repeated this sentiment, stating Johnson prioritized inconvenience and “ICE brutality.”

TSA Workers Face Financial Hardship

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the TSA, expired on February 14, 2026, due to disagreements over immigration enforcement policies. This has led to months of massive delays and unpaid TSA workers.

While ICE agents have been present at JFK and LaGuardia security checkpoints, their assistance with passenger flow has been limited.

Union Calls for Congressional Action

Hydrick Thomas, president of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, expressed strong dissatisfaction with Congress. “For over five weeks, TSA officers across the country showed up without being paid to ensure the safety of the flying public and our airports,” Thomas said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Congress has failed to perform theirs.”

Thomas reported that while some members have received backpay, issues with incorrect amounts, missed overtime, and tax withholdings persist, leading to financial hardship for many TSA employees, including repossessions and family disruption.

“To say we are utterly disgusted and disappointed with our elected officials is an understatement. Congress must come back to Washington, fix this crisis, and stop putting politics over people and vacation over values,” Thomas concluded.

Senate Action and Calls for House Approval

On March 26, 2026, the U.S. Senate voted to fund all of the DHS through the end of the fiscal year, excluding ICE and CBP. Lisa Gilbert, Co-president of Public Citizen, stated, “This long-overdue agreement in the Senate to pass funding for TSA allows Congress to continue to work on necessary reforms to ICE and CBP. The House must now pass this bill.”