WASHINGTON, D.C. — The partial government shutdown impacting Homeland Security entered its 35th day Friday with long lines increasing at TSA checkpoints with more unpaid workers leaving for paid jobs.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said Senate Democrats continue to refuse to come to the table for a possible compromise and the impact is being felt.
“The lines at TSA are getting longer and longer and people at TSA are starting to walk off the job because this is the third time they’ve been in this canundrum where they aren’t getting paid,” Capito said.
The U.S. Senate gave unanimous approval to a measure Thursday night that would require members of Congress to wait in line at TSA checkpoints like other passengers. They are currently allowed to jump the line. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, it’s time for Congress to wait just like everyone else.
“Airports around the country allow members of Congress to bypass the usual TSA security screening process at airports nationwide. In other words, they get to skip the line. This should end today,” Cornyn said. “Instead of enduring the same travel tribulations and security requirements that everyone else has to meet, members of Congress are getting an unfair perk while TSA officers have to work without pay.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. House.
There were some negotiations Thursday in Washington. Republicans described some progress, Democrats said issues remain.
National reports indicate that nearly 11 percent of all TSA workers called off work Wednesday with numbers growing each day. TSA workers missed their first full paycheck last Friday.
West Virginia has smaller airports with fewer TSA workers to start with but the trickle down could impact them too, Capito said.
“They are now saying that some of the smaller airports may have some condensed time frames when they are open,” she said.
The lines are expected to get even longer. Capito said it’s a busy time of year to travel.
“With spring break coming, with Easter coming and a lot of families traveling, you can see the pictures of some of the larger airports and how much trouble (they are having),” Capito said.