The government shutdown is affecting the travel industry and that’s all too clear now that Miami International Airport will close one terminal early for three days because of a lack of Transportation Security Administration employees.
Of the six terminals at Miami International Airport, the security checkpoints in Terminal G will be closed after 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
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“Due to an increased number of TSA screeners not reporting to work, we have decided to take this precautionary step and relocate about 12 flights to adjoining concourses in the afternoons,” airport spokesman Greg Chin told CNN.
Chin noted that the TSA callouts are double the normal rate for the airport and managers aren’t confident that there will be enough employees to cover all shifts this weekend.
“We felt we had to make a decision before the weekend,” Chin told the Miami Herald. “They’re erring on the side of caution.”
With the government shutdown, TSA employees are not getting paid, prompting many to go in search of cash-paying jobs to cover their living expenses and needs. In addition to airlines/tsa-agents-are-reportedly-calling-out-amid-government-shutdown.html” rel=”nofollow”>TSA callouts, many employees have quit. The situation is so dire that airlines/tsa-union-says-government-shutdown-causing-agents-to-quit.html” rel=”nofollow”>AFGE filed a lawsuit last week against the federal government on behalf of TSA workers for not being paid.
The shutdown is further drawing ire from many within the industry like pilots, who wrote a letter to Trump outlining how the shutdown is lowering security and efficiency standards.
