TSA screening not currently impacted by government shutdown at El Paso airport

Airports across the nation are feeling the effects of the government shutdown, but if you are flying out of El Paso International then passengers should not expect long delays.

The Transportation Safety Administration has seen an influx of agents not showing up for work because they didn’t get paid, as a result of the partial government shutdown.

The government said more than twice the normal amount of TSA workers are calling in sick.

ABC-7 talked to a TSA agent Tuesday morning who said El Paso International is currently fully staffed and all lanes of TSA screening are open.

​Travelers were pleasantly surprised they did not have to wait more than a few minutes, but said TSA agents should not have to work without pay.

“Who wants to work for free? We’ve got bills to pay, mortgages and kids to support, poor people,” said Dolores Vasquez, who caught an early morning flight to Las Vegas.

TSA agents are part of 800,000 federal workers affected by the government shutdown who are not getting paid.