The TSA is facing shuttering operations at some airports, according to the agency’s leader.
Ha Nguyen McNeill, in a testimony on Capitol Hill, described hardships faced by workers who have not been paid since mid-February. She detailed employees facing eviction, donating plasma for money, and stacks of unpaid bills. She also issued a stark warning to lawmakers that a situation like this should never happen again.
“This is a dire situation,” she said. “At this point, we have to look at all options on the table. And that does require us to, at some point, make very difficult choices as to which airports we might try to keep open and which ones we might have to shut down as our callout rates increase.”
By the 40th day of the budget stalemate between Republicans and Democrats, there seemed to be no way out.
Trump initially appeared to agree with the deal, but reversed course on putting his endorsement on it.
Democrats are insistent on changes to the administration’s immigration enforcement after two deaths of American citizens in Minneapolis by ICE agents.
The latest proposal by the GOP funds DHS, excluding the enforcement and removal operations of ICE. The proposal calls for other aspects of ICE and Customs and Border Protection to be funded.
The plan also added the use of body cameras for officers, something Democrats demanded, but it did not include other things that Democrats have made issue of, such as identification requirements and an end to raiding schools, churches, and other delicate places.
In the meantime, McNeill explained to lawmakers that multiple airports are experiencing callout rates of up to 40% due to the financial strain on TSA officers.
“Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet, all while being expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” McNeill said.
The current situation at airports has also become a health and safety issue, as McNeill reports that assaults have increased more than 500%.
Jim Szczesniak, aviation director for Houston’s airport system has said that long lines and wait times could get worse if the budget impasse doesn’t end soon.
