The absence rate has increased to 7.6%, up from 3.2% on the same day last year. Transportation Security Administration officials are closing more security lanes amid increased callouts from officers not being paid during the government shutdown. The absence rate at TSA on Monday is 7.6 percent, up from 3.2 percent on the same day last year, according to TSA spokesperson Michael Bilello. Major airports in cities such as Atlanta and Houston "are exercising their contingency plans to uphold aviation security standards." That means condensing TSA officers into fewer checkpoints and screening lanes to uphold security standards at the cost of longer lines. Queues at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport security extended more than an hour long on Monday morning, causing travelers to miss flights, according to ABC-affiliate WSB. An Atlanta airport spokesperson told ABC News several security lanes were closed this morning, leading to longer than usual lines. It's unclear if those lanes are reopening for the evening rush. The security checkpoint at Terminal B in Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport is also closed. Passengers are forced to go through a surrounding checkpoint and then walk or take the train to their gate in Terminal B on the secure side of the airport. While "mission critical" federal employees continue to go to work during the government shutdown, they are, for the first time, missing a paycheck. Airport screeners, air traffic controllers and many FAA inspectors and engineers did not get paid this week despite going to work. Flights are still taking off on time and air traffic controllers had to tackle a major winter storm from the Midwest to the East Coast this weekend, canceling hundreds of flights and thousands of delays. As a show of solidarity, a number of air traffic controllers in Canada have banded together to send pizza to their American counterparts amid payment freeze. ABC News saw employees of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday delivering donuts and words of encouragement to TSA officers at a security checkpoint. TSA officers are not allowed to accept gifts from companies or passengers but can accept donations like meals from the airport.<doc-sep>“I’m not a high-paid salary, federal bureaucrat in Washington. I’m an air conditioning mechanic.” “My husband is an electronics technician in the United States Coast Guard.” “I work at the United States Department of Agriculture.” “My husband is an attorney for the Department of Commerce.” “We work for the U.S.D.A. in rural housing.” “My husband is active duty.” “I’ve been a government employee, now, for 29 years. Today, was the first time in my life that I actually filed for unemployment insurance. It was quite a moment.” “It’s just my husband and I. I’m coming to the point to where I don’t know if I should just go ahead and apply for unemployment. If I should look for, maybe, temporary work. We’re going to need another income pretty soon.” “The prospect that, for no reason at all, I may have to find another permanent job is very frustrating and it speaks to a kind of waste. You know, the taxpayers would have to fund the whole hiring process for my replacement.” “I have an autoimmune condition that causes severe nerve pain and made the decision to cut back work hours so I could focus on my health and get more treatment. But we can’t now get on my husband’s plan because my husband works for the federal government and they’re not processing the special enrollments right now.” “I was due to retire from the government on Dec. 30. The lady that was processing my, my pension has been furloughed. I can’t even retire.” “My husband is working without pay. We’re very stressed about our bills and how we’re going to manage them. There’s a food pantry that was started by the spouses club and that is helping every single family here.” “And we’re just, we’re conserving really. You know, the food pantry is great. You know, we’re trying to, you know, make meals that last. No spending in excess. You know, as much as I want that Starbucks it’s not happening.” “My medicine is getting low. I have diabetes and I’m a breast cancer survivor. Some of my medications are getting low.” “If the shutdown keeps going on, then I can’t delay my care anymore. I’ll get a lot worse. So, it really means my husband is not going to have a paycheck. I’m going to have a paycheck that’s a lot lower than it was and we’re going to be paying a lot more.” “We need to come together and realize that this hurts all of us.” “And it’s going to start hurting everyone pretty soon. So, please stop and put your petty differences to the side and open us back up. If the issue’s with the wall, deal with the wall later. But open us back up. We want to work.”<doc-sep>The partial government shutdown has forced Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work without pay, leading to significant callouts, terminal closings and longer screening lines at airports across the country. Travelers should follow these tips to successfully navigate airport security checkpoints amid the shutdown. Arrive Early Passengers are always advised to arrive at the airport two to three hours ahead of their scheduled departure depending on whether they're flying domestically or internationally. It's never been more imperative that travelers heed that advice. Check Wait Times in Advance It's always wise to know before you go. Just as you check your flight status before arriving at the airport, look at the wait times for security. Some airports will post estimated wait times on their website as well as helpful updates via Twitter. However, travelers shouldn't take estimates as gospel as they are just that, estimates, and subject to change without notice. Download the MyTSA App The MyTSA App is also an excellent resource as it allows users to check the delay information and current weather conditions at their specific airport as well as see how busy their airport is likely to be on their travel date based on historical data. Those are just some of the helpful features. Pack Smart Pack neatly to ensure your bags get through the checkpoint as quickly as you do. Try to keep your clothes toward the bottom with your travel-size toiletries and electronic devices on top for easy inspection. Be Patient Sure, traveling can be stressful and an unexpectedly long screening line can compound that frustration. Nonetheless, it's important to put yourself in a TSA agent's shoes. They're not only unpaid but likely working extra hours amid the shutdown, so be kind, respectful and thankful. You can vent about the long lines afterward while you're waiting at the gate. Leave Prohibited Items at Home This is a good idea regardless of the situation as packing a banned item could lead to headaches for not only yourself but your fellow travelers who will be forced to wait even longer. Click here to learn what you can and can't bring. Stay Alert Standing in the security line is never the time to zone out, especially as you get closer to the front. Stay alert so you can get everything out of your pockets, remove your shoes and be completely ready when it's your turn. Enroll in TSA PreCheck TSA PreCheck is a no-brainer for travelers even long after the partial government shutdown is over. A five-year membership will only cost you $85 and make getting through screening faster and less demanding. According to TSA, 93 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 minutes in November 2018. This story was originally published by TravelPulse.<doc-sep>
A terminal at Houston's George Bush International Airport remained closed Monday for a second day amid a shortage of security workers who have gone unpaid during the partial government shutdown, officials said. The airport tweeted that the closing of Terminal B's security checkpoint and ticketing counter is attributed to “staffing issues” related to the shutdown, which entered its 24th day on Monday. Flights were still operating out of Terminal B, but passengers were directed to checkpoints and ticketing counters in other terminals. “Advice to always get to @iah 2 hours before your flight is especially important today,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted Sunday. “Shortage of TSA workers, unpaid during the US gov’t shutdown, is causing this change.” It wasn’t immediately clear when the terminal would reopen at Houston's airport, which is ranked among the top 20 in the world for its number of take-offs and landings, according to a 2018 report by the Airports Council International, a trade group. Miami International Airport temporarily closed Terminal G because TSA workers called in sick during the ongoing partial government shutdown, which entered its 22nd day on Sunday. CRISTOBAL HERRERA / EPA A TSA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An automated email reply referenced a “lapse in federal funding” and said messages would only be returned “after appropriations are enacted.” Passengers were affected Monday at another major airport, Washington Dulles International, where a checkpoint was closed and screening operations were consolidated after TSA officials said there was a significant number of workers who called out. But officials said it was due to the nearly foot of snow that had already fallen in the D.C. area. As of Sunday morning, a note posted on the agency’s website said TSA experienced a national rate of 7.7 percent unscheduled absences, compared with 3.2 percent one year earlier. Despite those shortages, a department spokesman tweeted Sunday that “security standards remain uncompromised at our nation’s airports.” Similar closings and so-called “sick outs” have struck other airports around the United States. Dallas/Fort Worth experienced a 2 percent jump in no-shows earlier this month, while Miami International Airport closed one of its concourses on Friday after workers called in sick at twice the normal rate, according to Reuters. Airport spokesman Greg Chin told The Associated Press that the terminal was scheduled to reopen Monday. TSA, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, employs 51,000 officers across the country, many of whom earn about $30,000 a year. Rudy Garcia, president of the union for Dallas TSA employees, said last week that employees who aren’t getting paid for their work would likely try to make money elsewhere. “If you don't have a check to pay your bills, what are you going to do?" he said. "You will look for something outside of what you're doing now."