Duffy Says Small Airports Will Close If DHS Shutdown Continues

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the partial government shutdown will lead to airport closures as challenges grow for Transportation Security Administration agents who are not receiving paychecks.

“As we get into next week and they’re about to miss another payment, this is going to look like child’s play what’s happening right now,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “You’re going to see small airports I believe shut down.”

Passengers will also see “extensive lines,” he said, and possible gridlock for air travel.

Duffy’s comments followed a similar warning from one of TSA’s top officials earlier this week on Fox & Friends.

“It’s not a hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports,” said Adam Stahl, acting deputy for TSA.

TSA agents last week missed their first full paycheck due to the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which began more than a month ago.

More than 10% of TSA checkpoint agents called out of work on Monday, the highest rate since the beginning of the shutdown.

Top photo: Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston on March 9. Bloomberg.