by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Wed January 9, 2019
The union representing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees said the lack of paychecks due to the partial government shutdown is causing workers to quit.
According to the official website of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), more than 50,000 TSA officers and staff are likely to miss another paycheck due to the political games being played in Washington D.C., which is forcing many to consider the impact it will have on their lives.
"Every day I'm getting calls from my members about their extreme financial hardships and need for a paycheck," AFGE TSA Council president Hydrick Thomas said in a statement. "Some of them have already quit and many are considering quitting the federal workforce because of this shutdown."
"The loss of officers, while we're already shorthanded, will create a massive security risk for American travelers since we don't have enough trainees in the pipeline or the ability to process new hires," Thomas continued. "Our TSOs already do an amazing job without the proper staffing levels, but if this keeps up there are problems that will arise - least of which would be increased wait times for travelers."
AFGE representatives filed a lawsuit last week against the federal government on behalf of TSA workers, saying that employees being forced to work without pay was "nothing short of inhumane."
The more than 44,000 TSA officers AFGE represents are considered essential employees, which means they are required to remain on the job despite the shutdown. The union believes the closure will mean increased wait times for travelers, despite TSA officials saying it had not significantly impacted the time spent at airports by passengers.
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