Long airport wait times persist as DHS funding remains in limbo

Monday, March 23, 2026
WJTV-TV Jackson
Long airport wait times persist as DHS funding remains in limbo
By Cameron Smith
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Passengers who waited for hours in line at airports on Monday said they don’t want a travel experience like that again. However, they could continue to see long wait times in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) until Congress can reach an agreement to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to U.S. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), this is the fourth week the DHS has not received funding. This is also the second time the department has experienced a shutdown in recent months.
“TSA, I think, that’s the most visible sign of the impacts where we see extremely long lines in airports across the country,” Guest said.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said it’s not right that employees under DHS are working without a paycheck.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the safety and security of the American people is not a bargaining chip,” she said.
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be at airports starting on Monday to help TSA agents.
“We’re not asking these ICE agents to run any sort of equipment that would screen baggage. We’re not asking them to be the individuals, who take the license, and make sure that their information is currently in the system,” said Guest.
Laken Milner told WJTV 12 News that ICE agents were present at the Atlanta airport.
“They had a lot of extra security just kind of doing crowd control things. So, it kind of makes you a little bit nervous to see that. But I was kind of thankful that they had brought in some extra people just to keep, you know, lines moving,” Milner said.
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