Nearly a month into the partial government shutdown, operations are flying smoothly at Boston Logan International Airport as TSA agents continue to work without pay.
As fliers at some airports across the country encounter heavy delays due to increasing TSA wait times, that’s not the case at Boston’s major travel hub.
“At this time, we have not seen TSA staffing issues at Logan,” Massport said in a statement posted on Logan’s X account on Wednesday. “The hardworking men and women of TSA continue to come to work and serve our passengers.
“Additionally, pre-check lanes are operating as normal,” the authority added. “We always recommend passengers give themselves ample time when traveling.”
The government shutdown, which began on Feb. 14, has halted funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration.
The smooth operations at Logan resemble those seen during the government shutdown last fall, which marked the longest in U.S. history, lasting 43 days. Nearly 300 of Logan’s TSA agents who posted perfect attendance received $10,000 bonuses from DHS for their efforts.
Boston Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley argued last fall that the “GOP shutdown” caused disruptions at Logan. Massport refuted that claim, saying business remained normal.
TSA agents are required to report to work during government shutdowns because they are considered essential personnel.
A handful of airports around the country, including those in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta, have dealt with hours-long security lines recently, sparking concerns around potential problems for spring break travel season.
The White House earlier this week slammed Democrats for causing issues at airports.
“Americans’ safety and security are on the line each day the Democrat Shutdown continues,” the White House said a statement. “Democrats negotiated a bipartisan, full-year DHS funding bill — then walked away from the table, choosing illegal aliens over public safety and forcing these essential workers to serve without pay yet again.”
DHS restarted Global Entry on Wednesday, a little over two weeks after it halted the service for travelers because of the shutdown. The program allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks — for a fee — when entering the U.S. from abroad, saving them time at airports and other ports of entry.
Homeland Security officials initially said the program would be suspended for as long as the partial shutdown remained in effect when announcing the move on Feb. 22.
Massport and TSA also recently implemented TSA PreCheck Touchless ID for participating airlines – Delta, Alaska, American and United – at Logan in Terminals A, B, and E. The initiative, equipped with biometric technology, provides TSA PreCheck members a “faster, more seamless verification process” without a physical ID or boarding pass.
“We are excited to offer this cutting-edge option to our travelers, reducing wait times and leading to a more streamlined security screening process,” TSA Federal Security Director for Massachusetts Bob Allison said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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