NEED TO KNOW
- Houston Airports issued an advisory on Nov. 2 warning travelers to prepare for long TSA wait times amid the government shutdown
- Footage obtained by PEOPLE shows a sea of travelers waiting in line for security at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- One traveler wrote on X that they waited over four hours just to get to the security line, causing them to miss their flight
Passengers flying out of Houston Airports should prepare for hours-long delays amid the federal government shutdown.
Footage taken by a traveler at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and obtained by PEOPLE shows crowds of passengers backed up in the airport as they experience significant wait times for airport security.
Passenger documents long security lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Anonymous via Storyful
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In the background, the traveler filming can be heard saying that the line “snakes five or six times” around while noting, “This is crazy.”
Another passenger documented a similar scene at IAH while traveling on Sunday, Nov. 2, which they shared to their X account under the username @nextradaymus69.
Long lines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport amid the government shutdown.
Anonymous via Storyful
The user said it took them “four-and-a-half hours” just to get to the security line, causing them to miss their flight.
“Four-and-a-half hours just to make it through the line to get into the TSA security line. Missed our flight,” the X user wrote alongside a clip of the crowding. “Our bags already got sent to our destination. This is an absolute s— show.”
In a press release shared on Nov. 2, Houston Airports warned travelers to expect extended security wait times “until further notice.”
Passengers traveling through IAH should prepare for TSA wait times beyond 3 hours, while those traveling through William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) should prepare for wait times of over one hour.
Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for Houston Airports, said in a statement that the government shutdown is impacting TSA staffing and operations nationwide, not just Houston airports.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Getty
“We sincerely thank our passengers for arriving early and for their patience and flexibility during this challenging time,” Szczesniak said. “The federal government shutdown has impacted TSA staffing and operations nationwide, AND Houston Airports is doing everything possible to support our TSA partners and keep passengers moving safely and efficiently.”
The statement concluded, “We ask that passengers continue to arrive early and expect extended security wait times until the federal government shutdown is resolved.”
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The government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 1, after Congress failed to agree on a plan to fund the government beyond Tuesday, Sept. 30. This is the first government shutdown since 2019, and it is not only impacting TSA staffing, but air traffic controllers as well.
On Oct. 6, PEOPLE reported how nearly 11,000 air traffic controllers nationwide were working without pay amid the shutdown. Later that month, airlines like United, Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE that they were paying for air traffic controllers’ meals who were not getting a paycheck as a result of the federal government shutting down.
