Key insights
- Elevated TSA absenteeism, while slightly improved, persists at major US airports due to the government shutdown. This could negatively impact travel, potentially dampening consumer confidence and discretionary spending, acting as a minor drag on near-term economic activity and equity market sentiment.
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Absences among Transportation Security Administration airport security officers fell slightly on Thursday to 9.8% nationwide but was much higher at some major airports, the government said on Friday.
The absenteeism rate among the 50,000 TSA officers fell from 10.2% on Wednesday but was significantly higher at major airports on Thursday including 29% at New York’s JFK, 27% at New Orleans, Baltimore Washington at 23%, 32% at Atlanta and over 30% at both Houston airports, the Homeland Security Department said.