Trump and his Congresses’ Shutdowns Have an Abnormally Large Negative Effect on Federal Services and Workers

by Callum Reddy 

As airports nationwide swelled with mid-March spring break traffic, travellers at many major airports were hit with closed security lanes and waits of up to two hours at open lanes. Since January 31st, a partial government shutdown has left the Department of Transportation shut down. Reserve funds carried TSA agents' pay until the end of February, when agents began to receive incomplete checks for the first time, leading to a 2% agent absentee rate. On March 13th, agents received their first empty paychecks, causing the recent catastrophic spike in absentee rates. On March 15th, the nationwide absentee rate hit 10%, reaching over 50% at Houston-Hobby (HOU). 

As the shutdown continues, the situation will only continue to deteriorate. Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News "as the weeks continue, if this continues, it's not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports – particularly smaller ones if callout rates go up." In addition to airport closures, as the missed paychecks stack up, absentee rates will continue to grow, leading to worse delays. Finally, the shutdown will have ramifications even after it ends. During the shutdown, more than 300 TSA agents have quit their jobs with TSA, a number that is likely to grow as the shutdown continues. It will take multiple weeks for the TSA to certify new employees, which could lead to extra delays depending on how many more agents quit. 

Government shutdowns don’t just affect travelers with longer security times, their biggest effect is on the government workers who are forced to go without pay for months on end. Johnny Jones, Secretary-Treasurer of AFGE TSA Council 100, a union representing TSA workers, told USA Today “there are a lot of people who don’t have money for food, gas, and childcare; it’s a sad state of affairs." 

Between his two terms as president, Donald Trump has had an abnormally high amount of government shutdowns, which have also lasted longer than other presidents have. While presidents don’t have complete control of shutdowns, they are the most important figures in their party, who each play significant roles in a shutdown. Since 1977, with the beginning of the Carter administration, no president has had more shutdowns than Trump (6), more days shutdown than Trump (116 and continuing as of March 18th), or a longer single shutdown (46 days and continuing as of March 18th). This is despite Trump having nearly three years left in his second term, while the comparison includes six presidents who have served two full terms. The last Republican president before Trump, George W. Bush, had no shutdowns during his two term presidency. Donald Trump and his Congresses have irresponsibly allowed government shutdowns to become commonplace, regularly impairing key government services, like TSA, and causing great financial strain on federal workers, like TSA agents.