Travelers at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday, March 28, 2026, continued to face extended security wait times due to persistent TSA staffing shortages triggered by the partial government shutdown, with real-time reports showing standard lines averaging 30 to 60 minutes or more during peak periods and some terminals experiencing significantly longer delays.
JFK, one of the busiest airports in the United States handling tens of millions of passengers annually, has seen its official wait time reporting suspended or marked with warnings about rapidly changing conditions. Airport officials and the Transportation Security Administration have repeatedly advised passengers to arrive significantly earlier than normal — often three to four hours or more for domestic flights — to avoid missing departures amid the unpredictable lines.
