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John Wayne Airport wait times remain “steady” amidst government shutdown

March 23, 2026

The Trump administration ordered federal immigration agents to deploy to several U.S. airports overwhelmed by long lines to supplement Transportation Security Administration staffing affected by the partial government shutdown, but it was unclear Monday, March 23, if that would include John Wayne Airport, where officials report wait times “remain steady.”

Security lines average “no more than 20 minutes,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley, whose Fifth District includes the airport area. “At this time, we remain focused on providing a safe and efficient travel experience while supporting our workforce as they continue ensuring smooth operations.”

Hundreds of thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees, including from the TSA, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew funding last month and negotiations over Democrats’ demands for major changes to federal immigration operations have not gone far.

Nationwide on Sunday, 11.8% of TSA agents missed work — the highest rate of the shutdown so far — with over 3,450 officers calling out, according to DHS. More than 400 officers have quit during the shutdown, the department said.

“Community partners like Hoag and Second Harvest Food Bank stepped up to support our TSA employees and help maintain staffing levels by providing food assistance and gas card support during this interim period,” Foley said.

She referred questions about whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel — who are still receiving pay because of President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax cuts bill — would be deployed to Orange County.

A spokesperson for John Wayne Airport did not say Monday whether federal immigration officers are expected.

“Responsibility for the Transportation Security Administration, including staffing levels and resources are determined at the federal level,” spokesperson AnnaSophia Servin said in a statement. “We remain in close communication with our federal partners to receive information on efforts to mitigate potential impacts to travelers at John Wayne Airport.”

Los Angeles World Airports, which operates Los Angeles International Airport, issued a statement late Sunday saying the facility has not experienced any significant security delays during the partial government shutdown.

Airport officials said they “anticipate no changes to our operations or the staffing of our federal partners at this time. This continuity is a direct result of the dedication, professionalism, and leadership of our local Transportation Security Officers and TSA leadership at LAX, who have continued to report to work and perform their duties under challenging circumstances. Their commitment has been critical to maintaining efficient operations and keeping security wait times low for travelers.”

Some fear that positioning federal immigration officers at security checkpoints will only escalate tensions. Union leaders representing aviation workers stressed that ICE officers don’t have the same training and expertise as TSA workers.

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees — which represents TSA officers — said in a statement that his members “deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.”

Whether ICE will have a more sweeping role beyond watching long lines and patrolling terminals has yet to be seen. On Sunday, Trump said federal immigration officers could guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs. The president has since suggested he could deploy the National Guard at airports, too.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.

Orange County Register

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John Wayne Airport wait times remain “steady” amidst government shutdown

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