UPDATES: TSA wait times at Florida airports on Friday and the wait at major airports.
Wait times at most Florida airports continue to be better than what passengers have seen across the United States.
More than 400 Transportation Security Administration workers have quit during a partial government shutdown that started in mid-February. Those remaining at their posts are working without pay.
But there are some exceptions.
At three Florida airports, TSA’s Screening Partnership Program uses private companies for security screening. Those employees aren’t affected by the government shutdown.
In an effort to help TSA employees working without pay and to lower security wait times, agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement were placed in more than a dozen airports across the U.S., including one in Florida, on March 23.
Delta, on March 24, even suspended special services for members of Congress, saying lawmakers will be treated as any other passenger.
Here’s what you should know Thursday, March 26.
Delta suspends special perks for lawmakers
Delta Air Lines said Tuesday, March 24, it was suspending special services for members of Congress.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the airline said in a statement to USA TODAY.
➤ Delta suspends special services for members of Congress amid shutdown
Lawmakers will no longer receive special airport escorts or VIP treatment for services like upgrades and rebooking. Delta says that lawmakers will be treated as any other passenger based on their SkyMiles loyalty status.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, front-line workers central to what we do, are not being paid,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC.
“It’s ridiculous to see them used as political chips. We’re outraged.”
ICE agents patrol RSW in Fort Myers, Florida
On Monday, March 23, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived at some U.S. airports to help with long waits during the partial government shutdown.
➤ ICE agents assigned to Florida airport. What are they doing?
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Lauren Bis told USA TODAY the agency would not confirm the locations of officers, citing “operational security reasons.”
ICE agents were seen Monday, patrolling in groups of three to five, walking in and out of concourses at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers.
Private contractors do airport screening at 3 Florida airports
Three Florida airports are among 20 across the U.S. that participate in TSA’s Screening Partnership Program.
➤ Two SW Florida airports have avoided long TSA wait times. Here’s why
“The Screening Partnership Program contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies,” TSA said.
“These companies run screening operations under federal oversight and must comply with all TSA security screening procedures.”
Florida airports using private contractors for airport screening are:
Passengers experiencing ‘highest wait times in history’
In a post on X March 25, the Department of Homeland Security said:
“Thanks to the Democrats’ reckless shutdown of DHS, travelers in TSA security lines are experiencing the highest wait times IN HISTORY.
“Enough is enough. Democrats must end this shutdown and stop holding American travel hostage.”
TSA employees still working without pay
Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, in mid‑February.
On March 13, TSA officers missed their first full paycheck after receiving partial paychecks on Feb. 28.
“Democrats are once again playing political games with the livelihoods of our heroic TSA officers,” Homeland Security posted on X.
“This shutdown has forced officers in Las Vegas and 100,000 other DHS workers to work without pay — putting them and their families in incredible financial uncertainty.”
‘Stakes are especially high.’ Airline CEOs urge Congress to end shutdown
In a letter to Congress, airline CEOs are demanding Congress “immediately come together to reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
“Americans — who live in your districts and home states — are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown. Yet, once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown.
“Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long — and painfully slow — lines at checkpoints. Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported. Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others.”
What is TSA wait time at Daytona International Airport, DAB?
Security wait times at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, VPS?
Security wait times at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, FLL?
Security wait times at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) currently average 15-30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Gainesville Regional Airport, GNV?
Passengers moving through the security checkpoints at Gainesville Regional Airport should anticipate waiting between 1-5 minutes, according to ifly.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Jacksonville International Airport, JAX?
Security wait times at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Key West International Airport, EYW?
Security wait times at Key West International Airport (EYW) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 25.
What is TSA wait time at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, MLB?
Security wait times at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Miami International Airport, MIA?
Security wait times at Miami International Airport (MIA) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
Immigration wait times are busy at more than 45 minutes.
You can also check the airport’s website at miami-airport.com/tsa-waittimes.asp.
What is TSA wait time at Northwest Florida Beaches International, ECP?
Security wait times at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Orlando International Airport, MCO?
Security wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
You can also check the airport’s website at flymco.com/security/.
What is TSA wait time at Orlando Sanford International Airport, SFB?
Security wait times at Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Palm Beach International Airport, PBI?
Security wait times at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Pensacola International Airport, PNS?
Security wait times at Pensacola International Airport (PNS) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Punta Gorda Airport, PGD?
Security wait times at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ?
Security wait times at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Southwest Florida International Airport, RSW?
Security wait times at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at St. Augustine Airport, SGJ?
Passengers moving through the security checkpoints at St. Augustine Airport should anticipate waiting on average of less than one minute, according to TSAWaitTimes.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, PIE?
Security wait times at St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport (PIE) currently average 15-30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Tallahassee International Airport, TLH?
Security wait times at Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Tampa International Airport, TPA?
Security wait times at Tampa International Airport (TPA) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What is TSA wait time at Vero Beach Regional Airport, VRB?
Security wait times at Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 8 a.m. March 26.
What are the current wait times at Florida airports? See the list
As of 8 a.m. Thursday, March 26, here are the estimated security wait times for Florida airports according to the airports and TSA. Note TSA estimates may not be current due to the shutdown when the MyTSA app is not updated:
Wait times will be shorter for travelers with TSA PreCheck, or for families or military members using dedicated lines, where available.
What are the TSA wait times at MCO, RSW, TPA? See major Florida airports
See the current wait times for TSA at Florida’s major airports, as of 8 a.m. Thursday, March 26.
How to check TSA wait times
Need to know when to be at the airport? There are a few ways to monitor TSA lines in real time.
Tallahassee company helping TSA agents
For the third time this year, TSA agents are working without pay, a situation that prompted a Tallahassee landscaping company to sponsor a “community lift” to support local TSA workers.
➤ Tallahassee company steps up to help unpaid TSA agents
“We have 48 TSA agents right here in our Tallahassee community,” the company said in a news release. “They haven’t walked away. They haven’t quit. They’ve stayed supporting each other and continuing to show up for all of us.”
The company is asking for donations of gift cards and non-perishable food, among other things, for workers and their families.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://news-journalonline.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How long are TSA wait times at Florida airports Thursday? See list
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
