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DHS: 400-Plus TSA Agents Quit Amid Democrat Shutdown

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Why does Congress get paid while TSA goes unpaid?

By Charlie McCarthy    |   Monday, 23 March 2026 01:57 PM EDT

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More than 400 Transportation Security Administration employees have quit their jobs since the Democrats' partial government shutdown began Feb. 14, the Department of Homeland Security told The Hill on Monday.

The growing wave of resignations is adding strain to already overwhelmed airports, with staffing shortages leading to longer lines, closed checkpoints, and mounting frustration for travelers nationwide.

According to DHS, the shutdown — triggered by a standoff over immigration enforcement funding — has left thousands of TSA officers working without pay, forcing many to make difficult financial decisions.

"This pointless, reckless shutdown of our homeland security workforce has caused more than 400 TSA officers to quit," Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told The Hill, noting that many others have called out of work because they can no longer afford basic expenses such as rent, food, and child care.