How the 2026 Government Shutdown Impacted TSA Screenings
Source: Upgraded Points' The Airline Travel Demand Tracker
The 2026 TSA funding lapse had a direct effect on airports that was clearly visible in checkpoint screening data nationwide. Between March and May 2026, average daily TSA throughput declined 6.7% compared with the same period in 2025, falling from approximately 2.43 million screenings per day to 2.27 million. The largest disruption actually occurred in May, when the number of travelers passing through TSA checkpoints declined 9.8% year over year. Even though the funding lapse ended in late April, the severe staffing attrition had lingering effects that outpaced the 8.9% and 1.7% declines seen in April and March.
Although the national trend points to broad disruption during the funding lapse, the impact was far from uniform. Some airports recorded gains in checkpoint activity, while others experienced steep declines, suggesting local operating conditions played a significant role in how airports weathered the disruption.
TSA throughput is often used as a proxy for air travel activity, but the figures reflect more than passenger demand alone. Airline schedules, route adjustments, ticket prices, fuel costs, and broader economic conditions can all influence checkpoint volumes. During the funding lapse, TSA faced staffing challenges that placed additional strain on agency operations. Because throughput data depend on consistent reporting, well-maintained IT infrastructure, and administrative oversight, staffing shortages may have affected the completeness or consistency of reported figures in some locations. As a result, the national decrease is best viewed as an indicator of systemwide disruption rather than a direct measure of changes in traveler demand.
As featured on
