If you’ve turned on the news or doom-scrolled social media, then no doubt you’ve seen the long airport security lines caused by the federal government shutdown. Depending on your algorithm or the channel you’re watching, there’s a lot of blame going around. But I’m not interested in debating who’s to blame. All I care about is getting through security as quickly as possible, and I think you are too.
When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) faces staffing shortages, long security lines and delays can quickly turn a short trip into a long, stressful ordeal.
The worst offenders appear to be in the south—Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, just to name a few—but it really depends on the day of the week (weekends tend to be worse), time, and terminal.
My best advice for skipping the long lines is to get TSA PreCheck and sign up for CLEAR. However, at some federally staffed airports, even TSA PreCheck lanes can experience delays if staffing shortages force TSA to consolidate screening operations or temporarily close dedicated lanes. During previous shutdowns, some airports suspended PreCheck lanes altogether during off-peak hours due to insufficient staffing, which doesn’t make much sense since TSA PreCheck lines require fewer agents. The same applies to Global Entry, which is why the Trump administration reopened those lines.
Another tip is to fly from airports that use private security contractors instead of federal TSA officers. This allows them to continue normal operations even during government disruptions since the staff are still being paid and don’t have to deal with workers calling in sick or quitting.
These airports participate in the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows them to hire private firms to handle passenger screening. TSA oversight and standards remain identical at SPP airports, but operational flexibility means these airports can maintain staffing levels and avoid many of the bottlenecks seen elsewhere. PreCheck lanes at SPP airports tend to remain fully operational, making travel smoother even when federal payroll disruptions occur.
One well-known SPP airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Travelers flying out of SFO can typically expect shorter waits, and the airport’s private screening staff continue operating without interruption during federal shutdowns. Another example is Kansas City International Airport (MCI), which also benefits from private security staffing. Many of the other SPP airports are smaller regional airports, giving travelers a more predictable experience even during government staffing issues.
Here is the official list of TSA Screening Partnership Program airports with their airport codes:
- Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)
- Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS)
- Dawson Community Airport (GDV)
- Great Falls International Airport (GTF)
- Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
- Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
- Havre City-County Airport (HVR)
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI)
- L. M. Clayton Airport (OLF)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- Portsmouth International Airport (PSM)
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
- Roswell International Air Center (ROW)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (SDY)
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD)
- Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP)
- Wokal Field/Glasgow International Airport (GGW)
- Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Travelers should check the airport website or app before their flight, as many SPP airports provide real-time security wait times, which helps plan when to arrive at the checkpoint. Pairing an SPP airport with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry can make your travel experience even faster and less stressful.
Using a private screening firm does not change security rules. Laptops, liquids, and shoes still need to be screened. The difference is that private staff can operate without interruptions from government staffing issues, which can save a significant amount of time.
