TSA delays worsen at LaGuardia as PreCheck lines hit 2 hours
LGA aftermath: Long TSA lines, DHS, bodies of pilots returned to Canada
NTSB released new video of the LaGuardia crash investigation as lines build at the airport amid the ongoing shutdown.
QUEENS - Long security lines continued to snarl travel at LaGuardia Airport on Friday, as TSA staffing shortages pushed wait times to extremes and federal officials moved closer to ending a shutdown that has disrupted airports nationwide.
What we know:
At Terminal B, the TSA PreCheck line stretched to roughly two hours Friday morning, with video showing large crowds of travelers winding through the terminal and backing up near security checkpoints.
SKIP TO: TSA WAIT TIMES
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 25: People wait in long security lines at LaGuardia Airport on March 25, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. Travel disruptions continue as hundreds of TSA agents have quit or are working without pay during a partial gov
The delays come as the Transportation Security Administration faces a deepening staffing crisis. More than 3,000 officers called out sick Wednesday, and nearly 500 have quit since February amid the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown, officials said.
Passengers described waiting hours to get through security, with some urging lawmakers to resolve the funding standoff.
‘Six hours waiting’
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 23: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026 in New York City. The travel disruptions continue as hundreds of TSA agents quit or work without pay during a par
"I’ve heard up to six hours waiting," one traveler said. "Anything better than what we have now."
Federal officials have deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist at airports, including LaGuardia, where they have been seen helping manage passenger flow and operating touchless facial recognition scanners.
When will travelers get a break? | DHS latest
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
There may soon be relief.
The Senate early Friday reached a deal to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including the TSA, after weeks of gridlock that disrupted air travel nationwide.
The agreement would restore funding for agencies including the TSA, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Coast Guard, but does not include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection — the central sticking point in negotiations.
DHS funding deal reached in Senate, funds TSA and most of Homeland Security, but not ICE and Border Patrol
The Senate early Friday reached a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which includes funds for the Transportation Security Administration and most other agencies, but not the immigration operations at the heart of the budget impasse.
The deal, reached unanimously in the early morning hours, comes 42 days into the shutdown and now heads to the House, where it will require bipartisan support.
The prolonged shutdown has left TSA workers unpaid for weeks, contributing to widespread callouts, resignations and long security lines at airports across the country.
Runway 4 at LaGuardia: Plane crash investigation
An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia ai
At LaGuardia, the delays are compounding the aftermath of Sunday night’s deadly crash involving an Air Canada Express plane and a Port Authority fire truck.
Runway 4 has since reopened, and investigators continue examining the wreckage after moving the aircraft to a nearby hangar. The crash killed two pilots, whose bodies were returned to their families in Canada, and injured dozens.
Despite the runway reopening, airport operations remain strained, with security bottlenecks now driving delays.
Officials are urging travelers to arrive early and allow extra time as conditions remain fluid.
TSA wait times at NYC-area airports
LaGuardia Airport (New York)
Wait times suspended
Updated March 24 at 8:46 a.m. ET
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
Wait times suspended
Updated March 24 at 8:46 a.m. ET
Newark Liberty International Airport (Newark, New Jersey)
Wait times suspended
Updated March 24 at 8:46 a.m. ET
Check the status of each airport below:
LaGuardia Airport status
- More information from FlightAware can be found here.
Newark Airport status
- More information from FlightAware can be found here.
JFK Airport status
- More information from FlightAware can be found here.
Officials warn delays could increase if the shutdown continues and staffing levels are affected. Travelers are advised to arrive early and check for updates before heading to the airport
The Source: This report is based on information from the NTSB, DHS and LaGuardia Airport.