Felixnews.com – The partial government shutdown in the United States (U.S.)—the second of 2026—has entered its 32nd day. A senior official in the Donald Trump administration has warned of the consequences if this partial shutdown continues.
According to the official, in the coming weeks, several small airports in the U.S. may have to close, Wednesday (March 18, 2026).
So far, the partial government shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has forced 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to work without pay for a month. As many as 10% of them were absent from duty on Sunday (March 
“As the coming weeks unfold, if this continues, it’s not an exaggeration to say that we may have to actually close airports—especially smaller ones—if absenteeism rates rise,” Acting TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl told “Fox and Friends” on Fox News.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday (March 17) that airports have now reached a critical point. The partial government shutdown has disrupted travel and prompted the CEO of the country’s largest airline to call for a swift end to the shutdown as spring break travel is underway.
Typically, less than 2% of TSA employees call in sick or fail to report for work, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In Atlanta, New York’s JFK, and Houston, absenteeism rates have reached approximately 20% since February 14, 2026, when funding ran out.
DHS said 366 TSA officers have left their posts during the government shutdown. On Sunday and Monday, absenteeism rates surged by more than 50% in Houston and more than 30% in New Orleans and Atlanta, with travelers sometimes having to wait in line for two hours or more.
In October 2025, a 43-day government shutdown caused widespread flight disruptions, and the FAA ordered a 10% reduction in flights at major airports.
DHS funding expired on February 13, 2026, after Congress failed to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement reforms demanded by Democrats.
Airlines are projecting a record-breaking spring travel season, with 171 million passengers expected to fly—a 4% increase from the same two-month period last year.
Some airports have closed several security checkpoints, while others are raising funds to help TSA workers purchase food or other essentials since they are not being paid.