Portrait of Chaos at US Airports During Shutdown, Trump Declares Emergency Status

Long queues of prospective passengers waited at the TSA security checkpoints at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, USA, on Thursday (26/3/2026). Due to the partial shutdown, TSA operations were disrupted, triggering long lines at airports across the US. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid) This situation occurred amid political tug-of-war over the DHS budget and the enforcement of immigration policies. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid) The President of the United States, Donald Trump, declared an emergency condition related to the disruptions in airport operations. (REUTERS/Caroline Brehman) This step was announced by Trump via social media, amid the chaos at several airports due to the partial government shutdown that has been ongoing for 41 days. (REUTERS/Caroline Brehman) He also affirmed that he would sign an order to “immediately pay the Transportation Security Administration officers” to address that emergency condition. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid) These disruptions primarily impacted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency responsible for aviation security under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (REUTERS/Caroline Brehman)