Houston Airport has shut down the TSA checkpoints in one of its terminals because there aren't enough TSA officers willing to work unpaid during the government shutdown
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas has closed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in one of its terminals due to a lack of security staff amid the government shutdown.
- Ticket counters and the security checkpoint in Terminal B closed down over the weekend.
- The airport told Business Insider that the checkpoint will remain closed until the TSA can provide enough people the staff it.
- Terminal B's gates will remain open and passengers flying through the facility will need to be screened at other terminals.
- United Airlines is Terminal B's largest tenant.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas has closed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in one of its terminals due to a lack of security staff amid the government shutdown.
In an alert posted on Twitter, the airport announced on Sunday that ticket counters and TSA checkpoint in Terminal B have been shut down.
Authorities at IAH announced that the checkpoint will be closed on Monday as well.
"Due to staffing issues associated with the partial shutdown of the federal government, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint and the ticketing counter in Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport remains closed," the airport said in a statement.
An airport official told Business Insider that the checkpoint will remain shuttered until the TSA can muster up enough employees.
The TSA was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
Terminal B remains open amid the closure of the checkpoint. As a result, passengers with flights operating out of Terminal B will go through security screening at Terminal C or E.
Read more: The TSA is giving unpaid security screeners a $500 bonus during the government shutdown.
Houston mayor Sylvester Turner advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of their flight.
According to United Airlines, Terminal B's main tenant, its operations at IAH is running normally at this time.
Miami International Airport also experienced a shortage of security screeners. As a result, the airport shut down one of its terminals for part of the weekend.
TSA staff have been working unpaid since the government shutdown commenced on December 22. Even though the workers are eligible to receive back pay once the shutdown is over, many live paycheck to paycheck.
This has resulted in a dramatic spike in the number of employees who are calling out of work or quitting altogether.
On Friday, TSA Administrator David Pekoske announced that screening officers will receive a $500 bonus for working during the holidays.
- Read more:
- United, Alaska, and Spirit flight attendants are warning Trump, Pelosi, and McConnell that the government shutdown is doing real damage to the airline industry
- TSA airport screeners have been working without pay during the shutdown and now many don't have money to get to work
- Delta, United, and JetBlue pilots are warning that flying will become more dangerous as the government shutdown continues
- The government shutdown could spur more flight delays making travel a nightmare, air traffic controllers claim