Updated March 28, 2026, 10:30 a.m. ET
Waiting in what officials are calling the “highest wait times in TSA history” amid the partial government shutdown is a headache for many travelers. For others, it’s much more challenging.
Lawmakers failed to reach a deal that would fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, on March 27, prompting President Trump to sign an order rerouting federal funds to pay airport security workers. Unlike past shutdowns, TSA officers could receive payment as quickly as March 30.
Since the shutdown began in mid-February, TSA officers have been working without pay, surpassing over $1 billion in missed paychecks. Over last weekend, call-outs for TSA officers reached a high, with over 480 resigning, according to the DHS. President Trump deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to 14 airports to ease the crowds forming at airport security checkpoints due to the staffing shortages.
Travelers have been feeling the consequences. Airport security lines at major hubs have surged, stretching outside of terminals and sometimes taking over four-and-a-half hours for someone to get through screening.
Air travel has been stressful for nearly everyone, but for passengers with disabilities, those traveling with someone who has them, as well as elderly travelers and families with young children, the challenges are even greater – especially when waiting in hours-long lines to catch their flight.
Some airlines are taking action to help those who need more assistance navigate the long lines, so you should contact yours to see what’s being offered. United Airlines told USA TODAY that at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, there are specific TSA lines for passengers traveling with small children, elderly passengers or those who have disabilities.
While it’s possible the understaffing will still cause delays, there are steps travelers can take to make the experience a little easier. Here’s what to know.
For travelers with disabilities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four U.S. adults has some type of disability, and airports and airlines do offer additional assistance for them.
For those who use a mobility device, TSA has a program called TSA Cares for a modified security screening process. Travelers can contact the TSA Cares hotline 72 hours before their departure date at 855-787-2227. TSA did not respond to USA TODAY’s inquiry on how this program is being impacted during the shutdown.
Travelers with mobility issues should contact their airline – not the airport or TSA – as soon as possible to make a reservation for a wheelchair at the airport to escort them through security, according to the DOT. Airlines are required to “promptly” assist passengers, who also must tell airport staff they have a disability and need assistance when they arrive.
Wheelchairs can be booked online when or after purchasing a ticket for airlines like United Airlines and American Airlines. They can be picked it up at the ticket counter or wheelchair assistance center.
Standing in line for extended periods of time can also be overwhelming for children with sensory or regulation differences, according to Whitney Loring, a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“During the current extended wait times in many airports, all of these factors may be heightened,” she said in an email to USA TODAY. Many airports and airlines participate in the Hidden Sunflower Program to bring awareness to non-apparent disabilities. People who are part of the program wear a lanyard or pin that indicates to staff they have a disability and may need extra support.
Preparation is key, especially for families with a child who has a disability. She recommends creating a “social story or visual schedule” that walks the child through what to expect and tracking the process of the airport lines. At the airport, they can use supports like checking off a box on a list for every five minutes of waiting in line.
“Even if the time points are arbitrary, it often helps a child with a disability to see that progress is being made and that concrete information is being provided to them about what is happening,” she said.
For families with children
Air travel is already a difficult task for families with young children due to its unpredictability, and long airport lines only make the experience more stressful.
Loring suggests families pack a travel bag with small toys and snacks to keep their children occupied while waiting in line. “Be prepared for how to proactively keep them occupied to set them up for success and prevent challenges, which is typically much easier than trying to pick up the pieces once things have fallen apart,” she said. You can also come up with easy-to-play games like pointing out objects of a certain color.
In Aug. 2025, TSA launched “Families on the Fly,” which created dedicated airport security lanes for families with children 12 and under at several airports. The list of participating airports can be found on the TSA website. However, it’s unclear if these are available during the shutdown.
For elderly passengers
For the most part, senior travelers should contact their airline as soon as possible to learn what assistance they’re offering, such as a wheelchair if they have mobility issues.
American Airlines’ website states passengers can “request wheelchair assistance for help with long distances at the airport.” United Airlines also offers a concierge service to guide travelers through certain airports, like Washington Dulles International Airport, but it’s unclear if this is available during the shutdown.
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