The partial government shutdown is impacting travel across the nation
SOUTH BEND, Ind. --With a partial government shutdown in effect, many across the nation are now missing a paycheck, with one of those groups being TSA workers. As spring break crowds grow, the number of TSA workers shrinks and locally in South Bend, there has been an increased number of travelers here locally.
Julie Curtis, Vice President of Marketing and Air Service Development, SBN International Airport says, “Airports are very busy. Our seat capacity is up seven and a half percent this year. Last year was a record year for us, serving over 1.1 million total travelers for the year. So, there are more and more people flying. And unfortunately, TSA is working right now without pay. So, we ask people to be very patient. They're doing everything they can to get travelers through.”
On top of the increase in passengers, funding for the DHS lapsed mid-February due to a standoff between political parties on the topic of immigration enforcement. This partial shutdown comes just months after the longest standing government shutdown that took place in 2025.
Between the lack of TSA employees nationwide and the weather we have seen across the Midwest, many have missed their flights or have dealt with severe delays. Curtis says it is really the large airports feeling the strain by this shutdown so it is very important to stay informed when travelling.
Curtis explains, "You will have to watch if you are flying out of a large airport; many airports are posting into social media. There are some airports that have seen TSA wait times as long as three hours or more. So, I just encourage you to stay informed about where you're traveling out of.”
Luckily at the SBN International Airport TSA workers are still showing up but it is still recommended to show up two hours ahead of your flight due to the increased number of travelers.
Curtis says, “We recommend that passengers traveling for spring break arrive two hours prior to their scheduled departure. That will allow them enough time to get parked, check their bag at the ticket counter, and get through security. One of the great benefits of starting your air travel here at South Bend is that we haven't seen those lines. We have a great team here that is really banding together and wants to get passengers safely to their destinations.”
During this slowdown, it may be helpful to be prepared before entering the TSA lines. Make sure to have your coat off, and things like electronics ready to go in the bins before getting to the front of the line.