Russian LNG Shadow Fleet Expands Amid Arctic LNG 2 Sanctions 
European Stocks Edge Higher as Iran-U.S. Peace Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Japan’s Yen Intervention and BOJ Rate Hike Bets Support Currency Recovery 
Saudi Aramco Q1 Profit Jumps 25% as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Reshapes Oil Exports 
China-Made Fireworks Power U.S. Independence Day Celebrations Amid Trade Truce 
Dollar Slips as Strong U.S. Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Cut Expectations 
Iran-U.S. Peace Deal Near as Oil Prices Fall and Nuclear Disputes Persist 
U.S.-China Beef Trade Deal Hopes Rise Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Lula and Trump Talks Signal New Phase in Brazil-US Relations 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as AI Stocks Rally and Strong Jobs Data Boost Confidence 
US Trade Court Blocks Trump’s 10% Global Tariffs 
China Export Growth Surges in April as Global Buyers Rush to Secure Supplies 
Asian Stocks Slide as Iran Tensions Escalate Despite Strong Weekly Gains 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Iran Tensions and Dollar Swings Drive Safe-Haven Demand 
Trump Signals Possible U.S.-Iran Peace Deal as Markets Rally on Hopes of War Ending 
Asian Currencies Slip as US Dollar Gains on Rising Iran Tensions and Awaited Jobs Data 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Threatens Strait of Hormuz Supply Route 
The TSA has warned that a government shutdown could severely disrupt airport operations during the holiday season. With 59,000 essential staff working unpaid, record passenger volumes may result in longer wait times unless lawmakers act quickly to avoid the funding crisis.
Higher Airport Wait Times Feared Amid Looming Shutdown
TSA Administrator Randolph Alles voiced concern that higher wait times at airports could result from a protracted partial US government shutdown, Investing.com reports.
If the government does not strike a budget agreement by Saturday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is responsible for airport security screening, has stated that around 59,000 of its 62,000 employees are deemed critical and will continue working without pay.
Among the federal employees who would be compelled to continue working but would not be compensated for their efforts are air traffic controllers and officers of the TSA.
"While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports," TSA Administrator David Pekoske wrote on social media.
TSA and FAA Brace for Shutdown Fallout
Following the record-breaking performance of the agency during the Thanksgiving holiday, it anticipates screening a record forty million passengers over the course of the holiday season.
In the absence of a settlement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicts that it would be forced to stop training air traffic controllers and lay off more than 17,000 personnel during the shutdown.
The 35-day government shutdown in 2019 caused an increase in controller and TSA officer absenteeism due to unpaid wages, which in turn caused some airport checkpoint wait times to be longer than expected.
Holiday Travel Disruptions Could Pressure Lawmakers
Air traffic was compelled to slow by the FAA during the previous shutdown, which increased pressure on Congress to resolve the impasse.
