Amid Staffing Challenges, 20% of TSA Agents Absent at Long Beach Airport

Over the weekend, Southern California faced a significant staffing crisis in the travel sector, as Long Beach Airport witnessed a notable shortage. On Saturday, more than 20% of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers were absent, marking one of the most critical shortfalls nationwide.

Federal data indicates that approximately 21% of TSA screeners did not show up for work at this coastal airport.

Even with the high rate of absenteeism, travelers navigating Long Beach Airport on Sunday reported that operations seemed to run relatively smoothly. However, many passengers had prepared for potential delays by arriving early, as noted by ABC7.

As a vital hub for the Southern California region, Long Beach Airport primarily serves domestic routes and budget airlines. While it efficiently manages a constant stream of passengers, it remains smaller and more efficient than larger airports like LAX.

A representative from Long Beach Airport mentioned that flights and screening processes have not faced major disruptions yet. Nevertheless, they warned that the situation could deteriorate if the shutdown continues.

This issue at Long Beach reflects a broader challenge across airports in the United States, where more than 11% of TSA employees were absent on the same day, setting a new record since the onset of the shutdown.

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, MCO in Florida, O’Hare International Airport in Illinois, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston were among the airports with the most delayed flights.

In response, the Trump administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to assist at airport security checkpoints starting Monday.

As of Monday morning, the agents were deployed to 14 major hubs; however, no deployment was made to any California airports.

The staffing crisis stems from the prolonged partial government shutdown, which has left TSA officers working without pay for weeks.

Federal authorities say the strain is already taking a toll, with hundreds of TSA employees reportedly leaving their positions since the funding lapse began.

The partial US government shutdown in early 2026 is driven by intense congressional disputes over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding and immigration enforcement reforms.

Following a brief general shutdown in late January/early February 2026, a prolonged shutdown centered on DHS and immigration was triggered by calls for reform.

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