TSA Pay Resumes, but Airport Lines May Take Days to Weeks to Normalize

TSA workers begin receiving pay after the government shutdown, but relief from long security lines isn’t immediate. With more than 500 officers quitting and thousands calling out, staffing shortages persist, and how quickly lines improve depends on how many officers return to duty—some may already have other jobs. If staffing recovers, wait times could ease within days to a couple of weeks; otherwise, delays may continue. Travelers may consider driving, rail, or bus as alternatives.