Air travel is one of the most visible ways Americans experience the federal government. Every day, millions of passengers pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints before boarding flights that connect businesses, families, and tourism destinations across the country. When a lapse in congressional funding1 disrupted TSA operations in spring 2026, the effects extended beyond airport security lines, raising concerns about travel reliability, airline finances, and the resilience of the nation’s aviation infrastructure.
The root of this operational decline was a severe personnel crisis at airport checkpoints. Under shutdown rules, frontline transportation security officers were classified as essential and required to report to work without pay. As the funding lapse dragged on for over a month, many officers faced intense financial strain and struggled to cover basic living expenses, leading to a sharp rise in unscheduled absences and eventual resignations. Because individual financial situations and local costs of living vary across the country, some workforces could withstand the pay freeze better than others, resulting in highly uneven staffing shortages.
For travelers, these localized staffing gaps quickly translated into fewer routes to choose from, shifting airline schedules, and more disruptions during peak travel periods. While some airports maintained stable screening volumes, others suffered steep drops in checkpoint activity.
To examine these regional disparities, our researchers analyzed how many passengers TSA processed, or throughput, to examine where checkpoint screenings fell most sharply between March and May 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.
How the 2026 Government Shutdown Impacted TSA Screenings
The 2026 TSA funding lapse had a direct effect on airports that was clearly visible in checkpoint screening data nationwide. Between March and May 2026, average daily TSA throughput declined 6.7% compared with the same period in 2025, falling from approximately 2.43 million screenings per day to 2.27 million. The largest disruption actually occurred in May, when the number of travelers passing through TSA checkpoints declined 9.8% year over year. Even though the funding lapse ended in late April, the severe staffing attrition had lingering effects that outpaced the 8.9% and 1.7% declines seen in April and March.
Although the national trend points to broad disruption during the funding lapse, the impact was far from uniform. Some airports recorded gains in checkpoint activity, while others experienced steep declines, suggesting local operating conditions played a significant role in how airports weathered the disruption.
TSA throughput is often used as a proxy for air travel activity, but the figures reflect more than passenger demand alone. Airline schedules, route adjustments, ticket prices, fuel costs, and broader economic conditions can all influence checkpoint volumes. During the funding lapse, TSA faced staffing challenges that placed additional strain on agency operations. Because throughput data depend on consistent reporting, well-maintained IT infrastructure, and administrative oversight, staffing shortages may have affected the completeness or consistency of reported figures in some locations. As a result, the national decrease is best viewed as an indicator of systemwide disruption rather than a direct measure of changes in traveler demand.
Airports Hardest Hit by 2026 TSA Staffing Shortages
The impact of the TSA funding lapse varied considerably across U.S. airports, with some of the nation’s busiest hubs recording the sharpest declines in reported checkpoint throughput. Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), one of the busiest airports in the world, experienced the largest year-over-year decline among major airports, with average daily TSA throughput falling 76.9% between March and May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Atlanta provides one of the clearest examples of the severity of the disruption. During the funding lapse, federal authorities deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to assist with identification checks at airport security checkpoints after TSA staffing shortages strained operations. The airport also reported multiple instances in which TSA throughput data showed zero passengers processed at ATL’s main checkpoint during peak travel periods, illustrating how staffing and operational challenges may have affected both checkpoint operations and the reporting systems used to track passenger throughput. As a result, some of the largest declines observed in the data reflect a combination of real-world disruptions and data collection challenges during the funding lapse.
Other large hub airports posting substantial declines included Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (-29.1%), Miami International Airport (MIA) (-26.2%), Orlando International Airport (MCO) (-22.2%), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) (-19.7%). Among medium hub airports, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) experienced the sharpest decline, with a 24.5% reduction in TSA throughput year over year. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) also experienced substantial declines at -19.7% and -13.7%, respectively.
While every airport with TSA personnel experienced negative impacts from the funding lapse, several large hubs were able to weather the storm and demonstrated notable resilience in passenger processing. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) led this group, posting an 8.7% year-over-year increase in average daily TSA throughput, followed by San Diego International Airport (SAN) (+5.2%) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) (+4.6%). The throughput growth at Newark offers a clear example of how localized staffing stability helped mitigate the worst effects of the crisis. While neighboring New York hubs experienced severe staffing shortages — with TSA worker callout rates reaching 28.2% at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 25.8% at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — EWR reported a significantly lower callout rate of 13.8%. This relative stability in the local workforce helped mitigate the impacts of crippling operational bottlenecks and extended wait times.
The True Cost of Flying Leading up to the 2026 Shutdown
The TSA funding lapse occurred at a challenging moment for the airline industry. According to The U.S. Airfare Watch Index from Upgraded Points, inflation-adjusted domestic airfares resumed their long-term decline following the post-pandemic travel recovery, continuing a trend that has made advertised ticket prices more affordable over time. However, the index measures base airfares and does not capture many taxes, fees, or ancillary charges that travelers often pay separately. In recent years, airlines have increasingly unbundled services such as checked baggage, seat selection, onboard meals, and other amenities, allowing carriers to advertise lower ticket prices while generating additional revenue through optional purchases.
That combination of lower inflation-adjusted base fares and higher operating costs left many airlines operating with tighter margins heading into 2026. As carriers sought to balance competitive ticket pricing with rising labor, maintenance, airport, and fuel expenses, ancillary fees became an increasingly important source of revenue. That meant the aviation industry entered the TSA funding lapse with less flexibility to absorb additional operational disruptions. Although changes in TSA throughput cannot be attributed solely to passenger demand, the funding lapse introduced another layer of uncertainty for airlines and airports already navigating a complex economic environment.
Full Results
Methodology
Researchers at Upgraded Points analyzed Transportation Security Administration checkpoint throughput data from The Airline Travel Demand Tracker from Upgraded Points, which compiles and analyzes airport-level screening data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. The analysis examined average daily TSA throughput between March and May 2026 and compared it with the same period in 2025 to measure year-over-year changes in checkpoint activity at airports across the United States.
National, state, and airport-level trends were calculated using average daily passenger throughput during the study period. Airports were categorized according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s hub classifications, where applicable. Percentage changes were calculated by comparing average daily throughput during the March-May 2026 funding lapse period with that of the same months in 2025.
TSA throughput data are widely used as an indicator of air travel activity but do not measure traveler demand directly. Throughput figures can be influenced by a range of factors, including airline schedules, route changes, ticket prices, fuel costs, economic conditions, weather events, and airport-specific operational factors. In addition, the 2026 TSA funding lapse coincided with staffing shortages and operational disruptions that may have affected the completeness or consistency of reported throughput data at some locations. As a result, changes in throughput should be interpreted as indicators of airport screening activity rather than definitive measures of passenger demand.
Inflation-adjusted airfare data were sourced from Upgraded Points’ U.S. Airfare Watch Index, which analyzes historical domestic airfare data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Airfare figures reflect base ticket prices and may not include taxes, baggage fees, seat selection charges, onboard purchases, or other ancillary fees that travelers often pay separately.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 TSA funding lapse demonstrated how closely airport operations, airline finances, and traveler experiences are intertwined. While reported TSA throughput declined nationwide during the funding lapse, the effects were not evenly distributed. Some airports experienced relatively modest changes, while others reported substantial drops in checkpoint activity, highlighting the varying ways operational disruptions can ripple through the aviation system.
For travelers, the findings underscore the importance of looking beyond headline airfare prices when evaluating the state of the airline industry. Even as inflation-adjusted base fares have fallen, airlines continue to face pressure from rising operating costs and growing reliance on ancillary revenue. The funding lapse introduced additional uncertainty into an already complex environment, illustrating how staffing shortages and operational disruptions can affect not only airport operations but also the data used to measure them. As policymakers, airports, and airlines assess the lessons from 2026, the episode serves as a reminder that disruptions within a single part of the aviation system can have consequences that extend far beyond the security checkpoint.
References
- Transportation Security Administration (2026, March 25). Oversight Hearing – DHS Shutdown Impacts. Retrieved on June 20, 2026, from https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/testimony/2026/03/25/oversight-hearing-dhs-shutdown-impacts.
