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‘This is just kind of unfair’: Long lines persist Sunday at Atlanta airport
‘This is just kind of unfair’: Long lines persist Sunday at Atlanta airport
‘This is just kind of unfair’: Long lines persist Sunday at Atlanta airport

Published on: 03/22/2026

Description

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Travel chaos continued Sunday morning at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as long lines persisted for yet another day.

Atlanta News First reporter Mary Kate Hamilton was on the scene and described Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines stretching from one side of the baggage claim area to the other.

Traveler Ferrari Simmons was on his way to visit his mother Sunday morning.

“This is just kind of unfair to the busiest airport in the world,” Simmons said. “We gotta do better. So if we can figure out a way to pay these people and get them what they need, we gotta do that. ASAP.”

Simmons was referring to TSA agents, who have not been paid since Feb. 14.

That’s when a partial government shutdown began as Democrats and Republicans argue about funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the TSA.

The security agents missed their first paycheck last week, and daily callout rates have reached as much as 40% at the Hartsfield-Jackson, according to airport officials.

The long lines come as President Trump moves to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the nation’s airports if an agreement is not reached to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

READ: Trump says he’ll send ICE agents to airports Monday

It is unclear what function the ICE agents would perform since they are not trained in airport security screening.

It’s been a week of madness at Hartsfield as waiting passengers have openly opined about the plight of unpaid TSA workers.

“Just to hold them hostage, because a politician can’t make up their mind is absolutely ludicrous to me,” traveler Sonya Taylor told Atlanta News First. “We have to pay our employees and not let them be in the middle of this mess.”

“Anybody that works should get their paycheck. And it’s making everybody suffer,” Taylor said.

Democrats are demanding changes to ICE operations as part of the bill, while Republicans want to pass a temporary funding measure without any new policies.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more.

MORE COVERAGE:

Atlanta spring weekend kicks off with long TSA lines

TSA callout rate reaches nearly 40% at Atlanta airport as partial shutdown continues

Georgia GOP targets Ossoff amid shutdown as TSA shortages snarl travel

‘We’re outraged’: Delta CEO calls for TSA agents to be paid again

Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.

News Source : https://www.walb.com/2026/03/22/long-lines-persist-atlanta-airport-early-sunday/

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