The ongoing shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is disrupting travel nationwide. This funding lapse is causing problems with security screenings at airports, raising concerns that some smaller airports might need to close temporarily.
While Blue Grass Airport in Lexington is among the smaller airports at risk, there are no current plans to close it. The threat of temporary closure arises from TSA staffing issues resulting from the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Lauren Simmerman is the Community Relations Manager at Blue Grass Airport. She said they have been lucky not to see any serious impacts from the shutdown, especially when it comes to TSA agents.
“They've continued to show up to work. They're considered essential employees, which means they are expected to show up despite not being paid. Obviously, throughout the country we've seen that's not the situation at all airports, but we're super grateful to them,” she said.
Other airports have experienced extremely long wait times, as many TSA agents are not reporting to work.
That is because they are not getting paid as part of the DHS shutdown.
The federal government has stationed ICE agents in some larger airports to help with security.
Simmerman said ICE agents have not been stationed at Blue Grass Airport.
Simmerman said operations at Blue Grass have been fairly normal, but people traveling through the airport should be mindful of any other stops on their trip.
“Certainly keep an eye on any other airports that you may be traveling through, as far as your return or any other travel plans. Just to get a gauge of what's going on there and if you need to alter any plans accordingly when it comes to those other airports,” she said.
Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville is also on the list of hubs that could face a temporary shutdown. A spokesperson with the airport provided the following statement:
“The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is consistently in the Top 70 of more than 330-plus commercial service airports in the country. There is no concern from staff regarding the closure of the airport or reduced operations as SDF is the busiest airport in the state based on the total number of annual aircraft operations. SDF is also the no. 1 busiest cargo airport in North America – and Top 5 in the world – as home to UPS Worldport.”
The U.S. House of Representatives is reviewing a Senate-passed bill that would fund many areas of DHS, including the TSA.
