Hiring & Workforce — 2026-03-24
TSA Callout Rate Hits 11% as 458 Officers Quit During DHS Shutdown; ICE Deployed to Airports
Nearly 11% of TSA workers scheduled for duty Monday (over 3,200 personnel) were absent, and at least 458 TSA employees have resigned since the DHS partial shutdown began in mid-February. Over 50,000 remaining officers are classified as essential and working without pay. The attrition forced DHS to deploy ICE agents to 14 airports for crowd management. Travelers in Houston, Atlanta, and Baltimore are being told to arrive hours before flights. Philadelphia closed three security checkpoints entirely. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated 'The time to end this is now,' as negotiators pursue the 94% DHS funding deal.
Analysis
TSA resignations rose from 400+ (prior brief) to 458+, a 15% acceleration in one cycle. Each departing TSO requires 4-6 months of training to replace. Even the 94% DHS funding deal, if enacted this week, would leave a months-long capacity gap through summer peak travel.
TSA resignations rose from 400+ (prior brief) to 458+, a 15% acceleration in one cycle. Each departing TSO requires 4-6 months of training to replace. Even the 94% DHS funding deal, if enacted this week, would leave a months-long capacity gap through summer peak travel.
1 sources
- Airport disruptions abound as senators chase deal to end Homeland Security budget standoff -
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