Airport security wait times across the U.S. appeared to return to normal Tuesday, March 31, a day after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees began receiving paychecks amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
President Donald Trump signed an order on March 27 redirecting Department of Homeland Security funds to pay TSA workers.
“Most TSA employees received a retroactive paycheck today that included at least two full paychecks covering pay periods 4 and 5,” Department of Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Lauren Bis told USA TODAY.
More than 500 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began, raising concerns about staffing levels at airport security checkpoints nationwide.
Impacts at Florida airports have largely been minimal. Wait times at security checkpoints, including Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), have remained relatively steady throughout the shutdown.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, who were deployed to airports nationwide, including one in Southwest Florida, on March 23, continue to assist with passenger screenings.
Here’s what to know about TSA wait times at TPA in Tampa and SRQ in Sarasota, as well as other Florida airports for Tuesday, March 31:
Trump orders TSA workers to get paychecks during ‘unprecedented emergency situation’
In a March 27 memorandum to the secretary of Homeland Security and the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Trump said air travel has “reached its breaking point.”
“This is an unprecedented emergency situation. Currently, more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees … are not being paid.
“Since the shutdown began, nearly 500 transportation security officers have left their positions, and thousands more have begun to call out sick at record rates due to lack of pay.
“As a result, security wait times at some airports have reached untenable lengths of three or more hours. These increased wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within our domestic travel system and has negatively impacted countless Americans.”
Trump directed federal funds “that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations” be used to pay TSA employees.
TSA employees were scheduled to receive paychecks starting on Monday, March 30.
ICE agents at RSW airport in Fort Myers, Florida
On March 23, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived at some U.S. airports to help with long waits during the partial government shutdown.
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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.
What are TSA wait times today at Tampa International Airport, TPA in Tampa, Florida?
Security wait times at Tampa International Airport (TPA) currently are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 31.
What are TSA wait times today at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, SRQ in Sarasota, Florida?
Security wait times at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) are under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 31.
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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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
What is TSA wait time at Gainesville Regional Airport, GNV?
Passengers moving through the security checkpoints at Gainesville Regional Airport average wait time is 6 minutes, according to ifly.com at 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
Immigration wait times are over 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 10 a.m. March 31.
What is TSA wait time at Orlando International Airport, MCO?
Security wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO) are averaging under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 31, but the airport’s website shows wait times up to 47 minutes for some gates.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
What is TSA wait time at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, PIE?
Security wait times at St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport (PIE) currently under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
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 10 a.m. March 31.
What are the current wait times at Florida airports? See the list
As of 10 a.m. Monday, March 31, 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 today at MCO, RSW, TPA? See major Florida airports
See the current wait times for TSA at Florida’s major airports, as of Tuesday, March 31.
How much do TSA workers make? TSA salaries
TSA pay varies depending on location. For example, higher-cost metro areas pay more than smaller or rural markets.
Pay varies further by experience and tenure, as government employees receive increases based on federal pay bands and step increases. Working overtime, night shifts and holidays also increases pay above base averages.
Wage average for TSA officers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
United States (national averages)
Florida (state averages)
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.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Tampa (TPA), Sarasota (SRQ) security wait times at Florida airports
Reporting by Kim Luciani and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
