'Bank account with a big fat zero': Dallas-Fort Worth TSA officers continue work as shutdown continues

Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Mar 25, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DALLAS — As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown reaches its 40th day, air travelers across the country are seeing record-high wait times.

Passengers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport waited several hours in security lines earlier this week, some missing flights entirely. Around 36% of Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport have called out of work this week, according to CBS News.

It’s not just Houston that is seeing TSA workers call out over the shutdown, which began Feb. 14 over debate in Congress about federal immigration enforcement. Airports in Georgia and New York are also reeling.

For local TSA workers at Dallas Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field, the work continues despite missing out on their last three paychecks.

“I’m gonna be looking at my bank account with a big fat zero,” said Johnny Jones, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1040, which represents TSA agents in North Texas.

How local TSA workers are handling the shutdown

This is the third time since last fall that TSA workers had to work without pay.

The federal government was shut down for 43 days last fall during October and November 2025. Earlier this year, the government shut down again for a few days.

During this current shutdown, Jones said employees are not doing well and continue to face financial hardship. Some are having a hard time paying their rent, and others can’t afford child care.

“This is a widespread issue,” Jones said. “This is not sustainable.”

The AFGE is hoping to open a food bank for TSA workers at both airports on Friday, March 27. While this will help feed employees, Jones said it’s a temporary fix for bigger problem.

“It’s giving a band-aid to a patient that lost both their legs,” Jones said.

How the shutdown is impacting air travel at local airports

While other Texas airports have seen travel impacts, both DFW and Love Field have not seen many disruptions.

“Airport operations at DFW remain normal and we have not seen staffing-related disruptions. Security screening at the airport is managed by the TSA, so for specific questions regarding staffing or federal program operations we would recommend reaching out to TSA or DHS directly,” a spokesperson for DFW Airport said.

“Thankfully, DAL has not experienced significant negative impacts, and the airport’s local TSA management has shared that most federal employees assigned to our airport are faithfully reporting for duty. We are very grateful to them for their commitment,” a spokesperson for Dallas Love Field said.

Dallas Love Field launched a donation drive for federal workers on March 20, located north of the Spirit of Flight Plaza off Contrail Lane.

The airport is encouraging the donation of toiletries, baby supplies, non-perishable food and grocery/gas gift cards. No cash will be accepted, according to the airport.

What happens next?

Federal lawmakers are at a standstill.

The latest proposal from Republican senators would fund most of the DHS but not the immigration enforcement and removal operations, which have been key to the debate. While this added new restraints on immigration officers, the Associated Press reported that it excludes policies that Democrats have demanded.

Speaking of ICE, President Donald Trump sent agents to 13 airports, including two in Houston, on Monday, March 23 to help with TSA staffing shortages.

While DFW and Love Field have not been affected by this, Jones said the deployment of ICE agents at other airports is a distraction to the larger issue.

“The bottom line is, there would be no need to have ICE there if we were getting paid,” Jones said.

_____