Security wait times at major U.S. airports swung wildly this weekend, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) caused by a partial government shutdown now entering its sixth week. Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport became a notorious example, with lines snaking through terminals and 44.4 percent of scheduled TSA agents calling in sick the previous day, the highest rate nationally. Travelers endured hours-long waits, like David Bailey, an anesthesiologist stranded since Thursday, who described the experience as making the 'U.S. view dim' and the system 'broken'. ICE agents were deployed to assist, but **T.

S. A. call-outs averaged over 3,000 daily, crippling operations. Baltimore's lines also stretched interminably, while Atlanta eased by midday and Los Angeles appeared functional**, highlighting the chaotic inconsistency.