TSA has reopened all but one security checkpoint at Philly airport
TSA security checkpoints are reopening at PHL Airport now that TSA agents have started receiving paychecks after weeks without pay, which led to staff shortages.
Philadelphia International Airport has reopened all but one of its security checkpoints after weeks of Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages.
Security checkpoints at Terminals A-West, A-East, B, C, and D/E are open. Terminal F remained closed Friday, but will reopen on Tuesday, according to an airport spokesperson.
Checkpoints A-West, C, and F had been closed due to TSA staff shortages in relation to the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which TSA falls under. But Terminals A-West and C reopened Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Philadelphia TSA staff have finally started receiving paychecks after more than a month without pay because of the shutdown. During those weeks without pay, many staffers called out, with Houston’s airport recording the most call-outs, leading to three-hour delays at security checkpoints there on some days.
TSA employees in Philadelphia showed up to work for the most part, and PHL had minimal delays during the weeks of staff shortages. However, President Donald Trump deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to 14 U.S. airports, including PHL, during the Homeland Security funding freeze.
Agents mostly stood by security checkpoints observing travelers, or stood at the entrance of security lanes, directing travelers to prepare their identification and answering basic airport questions for passersby.
While most travelers remained neutral or ignored the immigration enforcement agents, some shook their hands and thanked them for their service. During ICE’s presence at the airports, protesters showed up on multiple days to demand ICE leave the city’s airport and public spaces.
Despite TSA agents receiving pay again, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents may remain at airports, including Philadelphia’s. On Friday morning, wait times at PHL security checkpoints were minimal, except Terminal B, which had a nearly 40-minute wait.
