TSA closes Terminal C checkpoint at PHL Airport due to staffing shortages
The Terminal C security checkpoint is closed on Thursday due to TSA staffing shortages related to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Here's what we know.
The Transportation Security Administration has temporarily closed the Terminal C security checkpoint in the Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday morning.
“Due to staffing constraints related to the government shutdown, the TSA, in collaboration with the airport, is temporarily closing the Terminal C checkpoint,” said PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern.
All other security checkpoints remain open, and PreCheck passengers can use the designated lanes at Terminal A-East and D/E checkpoints. There is no timeline for when Terminal C will be back up and running.
The TSA is experiencing a lapse in funding, alongside all other Department of Homeland Security agencies, because its budget has not been passed by Congress.
In January, federal lawmakers narrowly avoided another full government shutdown by approving budgets for all federal agencies, except for the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans and President Donald Trump agreed to carve out the DHS budget for further negotiations as Democrats want to put more guardrails on federal immigration enforcement.
There have been a couple of attempts at passing the DHS budget, but neither side has budged on their demands. The only Senate Democrat to support funding DHS is Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.
As of publication, there is no end in sight to the DHS shutdown, and by proxy, the lapse in TSA funding that is leading to staff shortages across the country, including Philadelphia’s airport.