Airport security strain during shutdown grows as unpaid TSA officers warn, ‘We’re hurting’

Travelers wait in security lines at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.A transportation security officer who works at the airport said he is unsure when he will be paid next.(Ashley J.

White said that thanks to the financial support of his family, he’s been able “to show up” for his work.

“I’m thankful for my family to be able to come to work and be able to provide gas [to travel to work] because the gas prices have been rising,” he said.“However, there are a lot of officers here who do not have those resources orfamily commitmentsfrom others [to help them out].”

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He said that many security officers who have families are struggling to figure out how to take care of their children and other dependents.

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White is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.He worked as a banker before moving to the Washington metro area and taking a job as a TSO.

C., who is originally from Pittsburgh.Amid the shutdown, he has not received a paycheck, he said.

“The majority of TSOs are financially trying to do the best that they can,” he said.

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“But again, the foreseeable future is unknown — and we just want some answers,” White said. 

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“We just want some answers.”

“It’s just very unfair to have to be in this situation again, not being compensated for what we are entitled to as transportation security officers.”

As Americans face delays and chaos amid the shutdown, a transportation security officer said that “a lot of us are feeling very, very distressed, and feeling a little bit left out that we aren’t being taken seriously for what we do.”(Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu)

Said White, “How are we going to pay our bills?Loans [are] not an option for everyone, andaccumulating more debtprior to the last shutdown is … ridiculous.”

deserve to be compensatedfor what we do.And I hope that we are heard, because I think a lot of us are feeling very, very distressed, and feeling a little bit left out that we aren’t being taken seriously for what we do.”

Passengers should remember to be patient during the long security lines at airports, one officer advised.(Ashley J.

“We love our jobs.We are very committed to the mission.TSA is very important,” he said. 

“We are very thankful to be able to do what we do every day — but that involves a paycheck as well, unfortunately, and being able tosupport our families.We are entitled to that.”

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As airports across the country face long security line delays, passengers should remember to be patient, he said. 

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“When we’re here, we will do our best as always,” said White.“We have a crucial mission.We do take that very seriously — and just respect that.We are trying to make sure that you are as safe as possible.”

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White said the recent policy change allowing passengers to keep their shoes on has helped speed up lines, as well as TSA’s implementation of new technology.

Ashley J.