Houston Airport Security Lines Stretch Three Floors as Shutdown Drags On

At George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, TSA staffing shortages during a partial government shutdown have turned security into a three-floor bottleneck with wait times over four hours in Terminal A and E as PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are closed. ICE officers are deployed to 14 airports to help move lines, while travelers cope with long waits, limited food options, and ADA-accessibility gaps, often rebooking or staying overnight to make flights.