George Bush Intercontinental Airport has emerged as a stark example of how the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown is disrupting air travel, with some passengers facing security wait times of up to four hours.
At the heart of the delays is a sharp rise in absenteeism among Transportation Security Administration workers, many of whom are not reporting for duty because they are not being paid during the shutdown. While about 11% of TSA workers nationwide were absent on Tuesday, the rate at Bush Intercontinental soared to nearly 40%, significantly reducing the number of open security lanes.
The situation is compounded by the airport’s scale and importance. As a major hub for United Airlines, the airport handled more than 48 million passengers in 2024, making it one of the busiest in the country. With only a fraction of its usual 37 security lanes operating, long lines have become unavoidable.
Union officials say financial strain is a major factor behind the high callout rates, with many TSA workers still recovering from previous shutdowns while facing rising living costs. “If everybody’s being paid, you wouldn’t have no lines,” said a union representative.
March has also been an unusually busy period for Houston, adding pressure to an already strained system. Major events such as the World Baseball Classic, CERAWeek, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo have drawn large crowds, alongside spring break travel and NCAA Tournament games.
Although wait times briefly improved to under two hours midweek, delays remain severe, with some checkpoints reporting waits of up to 240 minutes. Officials warn that conditions could worsen unless the shutdown ends and staffing levels return to normal.
