TSA workers set to miss first full paycheck amid partial government shutdown

PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA) - TSA workers are set to miss their first full paycheck now, more than three weeks into the partial government shutdown.

"Why are we here if we're not going to get paid for it? That's the thought on everyone's mind," said Mariana Santana, a TSA officer at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Santana doesn't know the next time she'll receive a paycheck, and the last one was minimal.

"People are saying they got $4.25 paycheck, a $13 paycheck, a $70 paycheck," Santana shared.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding has been frozen since mid-February as Senate Democrats and Republicans continue to disagree on the 2026 budget.

This comes not long after a 43-day shutdown.

"Started off, everybody was thinking it wasn't going to be a long one this time. They did it to us before, they can't do it to us again," Santana remarked.

Jovan Petkovic, a representative of the local TSA Union, says some Phoenix workers are still fighting for backpay corrections from the last shutdown.

"Being basically backstabbed, being abandoned basically by our leaders," Petkovic explained.

Absences and resignations are increasing all while travel surges for spring break.

"In the first two weeks, we lost eight officers," Petkovic said.

Airports around the country, including in Houston and New Orleans, saw hours-long lines this week, forcing passengers to rebook later flights.

Sky Harbor didn't see anything that extreme, but some wait times crept above normal this week.

"Why do you think we don't see that here? Phoenix is different. Phoenix is different. We have a lot of people that like I said we have a lot of old timers that have been here 22, 23 years and they work their 40 hours, they work their 80 plus extra over time hours," Santana disclosed.

Santana and Petkovic say even their most dedicated workers can only go so long without receiving the pay they deserve.

"Eventually, people are going to get exhausted," Petkovic spoke.