by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Mon January 21, 2019
To make up for the staffing shortages caused by the partial federal government shutdown, the Transportation Security Administration is calling on reserve officers typically utilized during natural disasters.
According to CNBC.com, TSA officials reported unscheduled absences reached eight percent of the 51,000 officers employed by the agency, a substantial increase from the three percent reported during the same period last year.
The additional security screeners being called upon are part of the TSA's National Deployment Force and have been sent to several major airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The government shutdown is now the longest in American history and impacting the estimated 420,000 government employees deemed essential who have been working without pay for a month.
In addition to TSA agents, air traffic controllers are also being impacted by the government squabble that has resulted in long airport security lines and delays in government approval for new aircraft and routes.
TSA officials said most security wait times meet usual standards, with 94 percent of percent of the 1.6 million people screened Saturday waiting less than the agency's standard of 30 minutes.
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