India, March 28 -- Air travellers across the United States are facing hours-long delays at security checkpoints as the Transportation Security Administration struggles with staffing shortages. The issue stems largely from a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the TSA.

Because of the funding lapse, TSA employees, classified as essential workers, have continued working without pay for weeks. The result has been absenteeism, resignations, and a visible slowdown in airport operations.

The disruption traces back to a political standoff in Washington over DHS funding. Lawmakers remain divided over how to allocate money to agencies like US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Borde...