Ha Nguyen McNeill, the top official at the TSA, is testifying about the dire air travel situation before the House Homeland Security Committee, where she is calling on Congress to fund DHS and “ensure this never happens again.”

McNeill said the TSA has already lost more than 480 transportation security officers during this shutdown, while callout rates have accelerated. At some airports, 40 to 50% of their workforce is calling out of work on certain days, she said. 

“This has led to the highest wait times in TSA history, with some wait times greater than four and a half hours,” McNeill said. “We are being forced to consolidate lanes and may have to close smaller airports if we do not have enough officers. It is a fluid, challenging and unpredictable situation.”

McNeill said they have also seen a more than 500% increase in the frequency of assaults on TSA officers since the shutdown began. 

The TSA official said if the agency remains shut down on Friday, “we will have reached nearly $1 billion in missed paychecks.” 

“This level of disruption is unprecedented and unacceptable and significantly undermines the security of U.S. transportation systems,” she added.

McNeill said many in TSA’s workforce have missed bill payments, received eviction notices, had cars repossessed or utilities shut off. 

“Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet,” she said. “All while being expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public.”