TSA wait times are at a record high and can stretch for hours. But travelers from around the U.S. reported uneven experiences on Wednesday, March 25.

The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration says it may have to shut down operations at some airports as travelers are experiencing record waiting times.

Members of Congress are no longer eligible for special service typically offered to them as a result of the ongoing TSA funding dispute.

In a post on X Saturday, Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers during the DHS shutdown.

The top official at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned Congress on Wednesday that staffing shortages tied to the partial government shutdown could force the agency to close small airports and undermine the country’s readiness for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

TSA officers themselves typically train for six months before they are placed on the job, but the agency says ICE is already helping with the shutdown-induced crisis.

"This is the first time I've experienced something like this in my entire life," one traveler said as TSA lines snaked through George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

IAH posted three- to four-hour TSA waits again Wednesday morning.

At least 480 TSA security officers have quit since the shutdown began five weeks ago and thousands have been calling out of work every day.