Planning a trip to the US soon? Before setting off, there’s a critical update you should be aware of.
As the busy spring travel period approaches, new guidance has been issued that may impact your travel plans. It’s crucial to avoid any unexpected problems or delays at airports.
The Department of Homeland Security was shut down over the weekend after lawmakers didn’t meet the deadline to fund the agency by midnight on Friday. This department employs over 260,000 people.
This agency is responsible for screening passengers and luggage at airports nationwide.
You might recall the significant US federal government shutdown in late 2025, caused by Congress failing to fund the 2026 fiscal year. This standoff lasted for 43 days, marking it the longest in US history.
During that time, many federal services were halted, numerous workers were furloughed or worked unpaid, and airport operations faced disruptions such as flight delays and cancellations.
Now, industry groups representing the US travel sector and the country’s top airlines warn that if the Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded, travelers might face longer security lines at airports nationwide.
A funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security occurred at midnight on February 14, 2026, after Congress failed to pass a spending bill, leading to a partial department shutdown, as reported by Bloomberg Law. Other federal agencies currently have funding through the fiscal year’s end on September 30, leaving DHS as the only significant agency without long-term funding.
Despite the situation, air traffic controllers working for the Federal Aviation Administration will continue to receive pay since the federal government remains funded until September 30, reducing the immediate threat of widespread flight cancellations.
On the other hand, approximately 95% of Transportation Security Administration employees are considered essential under DHS’s contingency plan and must continue working without pay during this funding gap.
The conflict over DHS funding centers around immigration policy, with Democrats in both legislative chambers advocating for new limits on federal enforcement operations. Historically, air travel disruptions during shutdowns tend to escalate gradually. For instance, last year, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport about a month into the shutdown.
Travelers are advised to allow for extra time at security checkpoints due to possible delays from TSA absences. While predicting when and where these delays might occur is difficult, previous shutdowns showed that disruptions tended to grow over time, but they might appear more quickly this time.
“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” John Rose told PBS. Rose is the chief risk officer for the global travel management company Altour.
You might be able to check security line wait times on your airport’s website, but Rose advises against leaving it until the last minute to do so.
Passengers should also be particularly attentive to their luggage, ensuring nothing causes delays during the screening process, like confirming carry-on liquids meet size regulations. You can refer to the TSA website to verify what is allowed.