by David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the Transportation Security Administration warned on Thursday that a prolonged partial U.S. government shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports.

The TSA, which handles airport security screening, said about 59,000 of its 62,000 workers are considered crucial and will continue to work without pay in the event of a shutdown that begins Saturday unless the government reaches a funding agreement. .

Air traffic controllers and TSA officers are among the government workers who are required to continue working but will not be paid.

“While our staff is prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure a safe journey, please be aware that extended downtime may mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said on social media.

After setting a record on Thanksgiving, the agency expects to screen a record 40 million passengers over the holiday.

The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that without an agreement it would have to lay off more than 17,000 workers and halt air traffic controller training.

In 2019, during a 35-day shutdown, TSA screener and officer absences increased as workers did not receive their paychecks, increasing wait times at checkpoints at some airports. The FAA was forced to sluggish down air traffic, putting pressure on lawmakers to end the dispute.