Hobby Airport warns of 2-hour TSA wait due to government shutdown

HOUSTON - Houston's Hobby Airport is warning of longer TSA wait times as the partial government shutdown continues.

Two-hour TSA wait at Hobby Airport

Hobby (HOU) officials posted a warning Sunday on social media, saying TSA wait times could go over two hours.

Travelers are being advised to get to the airport three to four hours before your flight to allow more time for security. 

Airport officials also say TSA operations could change between shifts.

To check on security wait times, click here.

To check flight times, click here.

What they're saying:

Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, said this in a post on Sunday evening:

"Spring Break brings some of the busiest travel days of the year. This year, Houston Airports is expecting about 2.2 million travelers while the federal government remains shut down. Security screening is handled by our federal partners at TSA. Today, we saw firsthand how committed some officers are—taking on additional shifts to keep security lanes open at Hobby Airport.

At the same time, we’re seeing strong travel demand with fewer screening lanes open at some checkpoints. When more passengers meet fewer security lanes, wait times can grow quickly.

Houston Airports is managing traffic at the curbs, assisting passengers inside the terminals and helping travelers navigate checkpoint queues. We appreciate the patience and understanding that passengers continue to demonstrate.

The best advice we can share with travelers is simple: plan ahead, arrive early and stay in communication with your airline."

Partial government shutdown

Big picture view:

According to an online Shutdown Tracker, the federal government has been under a partial shutdown since Feb. 13.

The shutdown is related to a stop in funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

According to FOX News reports, despite Kristi Noem's removal as DHS Secretary, Congressional Democrats continue to block funding for the agency in hopes to make changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Reports say the House will be out for a week and the Senate won't be able to advance any funding legislation, so the shutdown is guaranteed to continue for some time.