Security lines at some US airports

Waiting times in security lines at some U.S. airports extended to three hours on Sunday, as absences by Transportation Security Administration TSA workers rose during a partial government ​shutdown and as spring-break travel increased.



Houston Hobby Airport at one point on sunday reported lines averaging 3.5 hours, and at 4 p.m. EDT the wait times averaged three hours.



TSA said longer-than-average lines were also reported at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International ‌Airport.



Funding for the ‌Homeland Security Department lapsed ​on February 13 after Congress failed to reach a deal on immigration enforcement reforms demanded by Democrats.



That halted operational funding for several government agencies, including the TSA, resulting in about 50,000 TSA airport security screeners working without ​pay.