Are TSA PreCheck and CLEAR affected by long security lines?

(NewsNation) — Travelers are facing hours-long security lines at some of the nation’s busiest airports as a government funding standoff leaves the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) short-staffed.

Wait times at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) surpassed four hours Monday, while officials at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta are urging passengers to prepare for similarly long waits due to staffing constraints.

For travelers trying to avoid the worst of the delays, expedited screening programs like TSA PreCheck and CLEAR typically offer a faster path through security — though they haven’t been immune to disruptions.

At IAH, TSA PreCheck lanes closed at 10:30 a.m. Monday, and CLEAR was not available. TSA PreCheck was also unavailable Sunday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport due to staffing shortages, airport officials said.

In Atlanta, TSA PreCheck wait times climbed to as high as four to five hours Sunday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which reported that the CLEAR line in the domestic terminal was also closed.

A CLEAR spokesperson told NewsNation on Monday that service may be affected at “some of our locations” amid rapidly changing airport conditions. The TSA notes on its website that PreCheck hours are subject to change based on operational needs, which vary by airport.

TSA staffing........

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