Air travelers across the United States are facing some of the longest security lines in the history of the Transportation Security Administration, with certain passengers waiting more than four and a half hours to pass through checkpoints, a senior official told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Appearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, TSA acting administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said the agency is struggling to maintain operations, noting that it is “being forced to consolidate” and warning that smaller airports could face closures if staffing shortages persist.

“It is a fluid, challenging and unpredictable situation. We understand this is frustrating and disruptive,” she added. “This is unacceptable.”

McNeill disclosed that more than 480 Transportation Security Officers have resigned during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, and cautioned that the number continues to rise.

She also highlighted a sharp increase in absenteeism among remaining personnel. On Sunday, the nationwide call-out rate reached 11.76%, the highest level recorded since the shutdown began on Feb. 14. At certain airports, absentee rates have surged to between 40% and 50%.

By comparison, before the partial shutdown, call-out rates hovered around 2%, according to McNeill’s deputy, Adam Stahl.

In additional testimony, McNeill said incidents of assaults against TSA officers have risen dramatically, increasing by 500%.

The acting administrator credited President Trump with helping ease the strain by deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist at airports nationwide.

She explained that these agents are currently handling “non-specialized screening functions.”

“We’ve been spending time training them the last few days,” McNeill claimed. “And we’re seeing relief, signs of early relief at the airports.

“It’s been incredibly helpful to alleviate the burden on our workforce. And we’re getting positive feedback from passengers and our field leadership.”

Despite the short-term assistance, McNeill warned that the prolonged shutdown could have serious consequences for aviation security, including the agency’s ability to prevent potential terrorist threats.

She pointed to the extensive six-month training process required for Transportation Security Officers, expressing concern that staffing shortages could hinder readiness for major upcoming events, including the 2026 World Cup, which is set to begin in June and conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

“As the shutdown drags on, we will likely see our attrition rates continue to spike, which means that we may not have the adequate headcount to staff the airports that are supporting the FIFA locations adequately,” she explained.

“The ongoing shutdown is also impacting our ability to procure and deploy technology, from checkpoint technology to some of our counter UAS [unmanned aerial vehicle] technology, in advance of the FIFA World Cup,” McNeill continued. “So we’re really running short on time.”

{Matzav.com}