More than 1,110 officers at the Transportation Security Administration have resigned since the ongoing shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security began on Feb. 14, a spokesperson confirmed on Monday, as spoken by Politico.
That number has climbed sharply from just a week earlier. On April 20, DHS said over 830 TSA staff had left during what has become a record-long funding lapse. The rising departures could start to affect travel this summer, especially with the FIFA World Cup set to begin in June.
According to the TSA, bringing in new officers is not quick. It takes about four to six months to train recruits before they can handle regular airport duties. As of late March, the workforce included roughly 50,000 officers, based on figures from the White House.
READ: Senate Republicans propose to end DHS shutdown as Trump remains unconvinced (March 25, 2026)
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had earlier said that Donald Trump allowed the department to tap emergency funds from last year’s GOP legislation to keep employees paid. However, those funds could run out if the shutdown stretches into early May.
The growing staffing gap could once again slow airport security lines, similar to what travelers experienced earlier in the standoff. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that a Senate-approved funding bill for most of DHS, including TSA, would need changes before it can pass the House. That signals more delays before normal operations resume across much of the department.
READ: Why did Trump fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem? (
For context, during last fall’s 43-day federal shutdown, about 1,110 TSA officers left their jobs. That marked a 25 percent rise in departures compared to the same period in 2024.
The steady loss of TSA personnel and the uncertainty around funding point to a difficult stretch ahead for US airport operations. Unless lawmakers reach a deal soon, staffing shortages could deepen just as summer travel demand picks up, putting added pressure on screening systems and increasing wait times for passengers.
With training new officers taking months and stopgap funds running out, a prolonged impasse risks turning short-term disruption into a longer-term strain on aviation security and traveler experience.