TSA freezes hiring and overtime pay as spring break travel season nears

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Over the next two months, thousands of people will be planning spring break trips -- but there might be a snag that could have travelers waiting in the security line a lot longer than normal.

Channel 9 learned there could be fewer TSA agents on duty to get airline passengers through security at airports across the country.

During the next few weeks, as more families travel for spring break, lines can get very long, extending the wait to get through security. To make matters worse, the Washington Post is reporting the TSA has temporarily frozen hiring and overtime pay.

The freeze is in place in order for the TSA to afford to give agents a cost-of-living raise.

The TSA employee union said the freeze, which will be in place until April or May, will mean longer waits at checkpoints during the spring break vacation period.

However, a TSA spokeswoman told the paper the freeze would not impact spring break travel because the agency has already hired additional officers to ensure that they will be ready for the extra passengers.

The TSA employs 47,000 officers who screen passengers at airports across the country.

Channel 9 has reached out to Charlotte Douglas officials as well as local TSA agents to check on the staffing here and will have more on this story on Eyewitness News.

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