TSA Lines Are Out of Control Right Now. Here's How to Check Wait Times at Your Airport.

How Bad Is It Right Now?

The situation at airports right now is rough. In Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport is telling travelers to arrive at least four hours early. Over the weekend, only four of 18 TSA screening lanes were open, and more than a third of officers called out after working without pay for over a month. The airport has even stopped publishing real-time wait times because conditions are changing too quickly to keep up.

Source: Screenshot from Atlanta Airport on X

Videos posted this morning show just how extreme things have gotten. In Atlanta, the PreCheck line is stretching outside the terminal and into the open air. Journalist Sharyl Attkisson, who joined the line around 10 a.m., said staff were handing out water and the crowd was staying calm despite the heat. Still, the line remains outside.

Source: Screenshot from Sharyl Attkisson on X

And, it's not just Atlanta. At JFK in New York, PreCheck is taking around 90 minutes instead of the usual 13 minutes. In Houston, security lines at Bush Intercontinental have stretched across multiple floors, with waits of about two hours, and CLEAR lanes are currently closed. Nationwide, TSA absences are climbing, with more than 47 percent of officers at Houston Hobby and more than 42 percent at Bush calling out on Saturday alone.

Where ICE Agents Are Being Deployed

President Trump ordered ICE agents to airports on Monday to assist with line management and crowd control during the staffing shortage. Federal officials have confirmed the deployment covers at least 14 major US airports. According to CNN and national reports, those airports are:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport

• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

• Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport

• Houston William P. Hobby Airport

• John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

• LaGuardia Airport, New York

• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico

• Newark Liberty International Airport

• Philadelphia International Airport

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

• Pittsburgh International Airport

• Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers

The list may change depending on staffing needs and travel volume. Federal officials have stated the deployment is not intended for immigration enforcement at this time. ICE agents are expected to assist with tasks including crowd control, monitoring exit lanes, checking IDs before screening, and other non-screening duties, allowing trained TSA officers to focus on security screening.

How to Check TSA Wait Times

This is where it gets complicated. TSA's official app MyTSA and the agency's wait time tracker on tsa.gov are both currently offline due to the government shutdown. Do not rely on them.

Here is what actually works right now. Your airport's website is the first place to check. Many airports including Ronald Reagan Washington National and Houston's Bush Intercontinental are posting expected wait times directly. Currently, there are two security checkpoints open at Houston Bush Intercontinental, and the wait times is 150 minutes and 120 minutes.

Source: Screenshot from IAH Security Website

Major hubs including JFK and Atlanta are not posting real-time data and are simply advising travelers to arrive early.

Airport Insight and a CNN live tracker are two websites offering real-time security wait time data and are currently your most reliable options. Qsensor, available on X at @TravelQsen, is posting live alerts by terminal and lane type as conditions develop. FlightAware tracks overall departure and arrival delays and is useful once you are through security and want to check whether your flight is running on time.

Source: Screenshot from TravelQsensor on X

What to Do If You Miss Your Flight

Airlines are not required to refund tickets when delays are caused by TSA wait times. Under Department of Transportation rules, TSA lines are not the airline's responsibility. If your flight is cancelled or delayed for reasons within the airline's control you are entitled to a refund, but missing a flight because of a security queue does not qualify. Treat the current situation like a weather delay: build in as much buffer as possible and check your flight status before you leave home.

Check TSA wait times at your airport before you leave using the MyTSA app. Arrive earlier than usual. Build in at least an extra hour of buffer on top of your normal arrival time. If you have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, use those lanes as they have been less affected by the staffing shortages. If you are flying through a major hub including Houston, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, check for specific advisories before heading to the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions: TSA Wait Times March 2026

Which airports are reported to have ICE agents working?

ICE agents are currently working at Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Houston (HOU), Ft. Myers (RSW), New Orleans (MSY), New York (JFK), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), Pittsburgh (PIT), and San Juan, PR (SJU).

Frequently Asked Questions: TSA Wait Times March 2026

Is the MyTSA app working right now? No. TSA confirmed that MyTSA and the agency's wait time tracker on tsa.gov are both offline due to the government shutdown. Use Airport Insight, TSA Wait Times, or your airport's official website instead.

Which airports have the worst TSA lines right now?

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Houston Bush Intercontinental are among the most severely affected. Atlanta is asking travelers to arrive four hours early. JFK is also running significantly above normal wait times.

What is causing the long TSA lines?

A partial government shutdown has left nearly 50,000 TSA officers working without pay since mid-February. Callout rates have surged, with some airports seeing absence rates above 40 percent. At least 376 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began.

Can I get a refund if I miss my flight because of TSA lines?

No. Airlines are not responsible for TSA wait times under Department of Transportation rules.

Is TSA PreCheck still worth it right now?

Yes, but it is not immune. PreCheck lines are still significantly faster than standard screening in most cases, but plan for longer waits than usual.

What are ICE agents doing at airports?

ICE agents have been deployed to airports to assist with line management, crowd control, ID checking, and monitoring exit lanes. Federal officials have stated the deployment is not intended for immigration enforcement at this time.

How do I check real-time TSA wait times if the official app is down?

Use Airport Insight or TSA Wait Times for independent real-time data. Check your specific airport's website. Follow @TravelQsen on X for live alerts by terminal.