This browser does not support the Video element.
When will the airport gridlock end?
Senate Democrats sent a DHS funding offer to the White House.
NEWARK - The ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport due to "volume" has been lifted.
Travellers wait to check in for their flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. US airport security officers missed their first full paycheck on March 13 as a partial funding shutdown of the government …
Ground stop due to ‘volume’
What we know:
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the reason for the ground stop was the number of people currently occupying Newark airport.
The airport's official X account posted about "longer than usual" wait times around the time the alert was sent out.
The backstory:
Travelers at New York City area airports are preparing for a busy weekend as the first day of spring arrives, with some reporting long security lines at major hubs.
The travel rush comes as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security continues, raising concerns about potential delays at airports nationwide.
Travellers wait for their flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on March 18, 2026. US airport security officers missed their first full paycheck on March 13 as a partial funding shutdown of the government approached t …
Transportation Security Administration officers are continuing to work without pay as negotiations in Washington remain at a standstill.
Lawmakers remain at odds in Washington over funding for DHS, with Senate Democrats sending a counteroffer to the White House in an effort to reopen the agency and ease disruptions at airports nationwide. The Trump administration outlined its own proposal earlier this week, but negotiations remain stalled.
What you can do:
FOX 5 NY is tracking TSA wait times across the region.
The Source: This article includes information from an alert sent by the Federal Aviation Administration.