Advertisement

TSA says airport security staff taking more time off work during U.S. gov’t shutdown

Click to play video: 'Irony of shutdown over border funding — it affects the department of homeland security too'
Irony of shutdown over border funding — it affects the department of homeland security too
WATCH: Irony of shutdown over border funding — it affects the department of homeland security too – Jan 3, 2019

The federal agency tasked with guaranteeing U.S. airport security acknowledged an increase in the number of its employees calling off work during the partial government shutdown.

Employees of the Transportation Security Administration are expected to work without pay during the shutdown because their jobs are considered essential.

READ MORE: Pence leads shutdown talks with Congressional aides, Trump spends morning tweeting

The TSA said in a statement Friday that call-outs that began over the holiday period have increased. The agency did not say how many of its employees have called out, but it said the call-outs have had “minimal impact given that there are 51,739 employees supporting the screening process.” The statement said wait times “may be affected” but so far “remain well within TSA standards.”

“TSA is closely monitoring the situation,” the agency statement said. “Security effectiveness will not be compromised.”

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: From dirty parks to closed museums, impact of U.S. government shutdown continues to widen

Click to play video: 'From dirty parks to closed museums, impact of U.S. government shutdown continues to widen'
From dirty parks to closed museums, impact of U.S. government shutdown continues to widen

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back Saturday on suggestions that the absences represented a “sickout” that was having significant consequences on U.S. air travel. White House officials and congressional aides were in talks Saturday to end the shutdown, which entered its 15th day. Negotiations are at an impasse over Trump’s demands for $5.6 billion to fund a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

READ MORE: Donald Trump threatens to call national emergency to force wall approval

TSA spokesman Michael Bilello tweeted that 5.5 per cent of the TSA workforce at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport called out Friday, compared with 3.5 per cent on a normal day. He said wait times “may be affected” but that all passengers would be screened as normal.

Story continues below advertisement

Hydrick Thomas, president of the national TSA employee union, told CNN that up to 170 TSA employees at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport have called out each day this week.

WATCH: As 800,000 U.S. government workers go unpaid, Trump is “proud” to own

Click to play video: 'Pence meets with Democratic aides to discuss shutdown'
Pence meets with Democratic aides to discuss shutdown

Airport officials said there were no screening delays at JFK, Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports or Miami International Airport.

Union officials did not return requests for comment.

Sponsored content

AdChoices