HOUSTON — Travelers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport stood for hours in security lines on Tuesday as TSA staff shortages caused by the Department of Homeland Security funding dispute created delays. The TSA staffing shortage at the airport was around 36% on Tuesday and has remained in that range in recent days.

In Terminal E late Tuesday morning, the security line spanned three stories and extended outside the terminal, including around the bus drop-off stations. In Terminal A, security lines stretched across three levels and wrapped around three terminals in the basement-level subway corridor.

The security line then wound up escalators to baggage claim, looped up a second set of escalators, and surfaced at the third-floor ticketing area. Passengers waiting in line reported wait times of up to five hours and said many missed flights and planned to rebook after clearing security.

Overhead announcements periodically advised travelers with departures within four hours to consider rebooking. Summer Martinez said she had already missed three flights and was on her fourth attempt to board a flight to Tulsa.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel have been reassigned to assist with security screening, but no ICE personnel were visible along security lines on Tuesday morning. Families with young children, crying infants, and pets confined to carriers stood packed into slow-moving security lines.

The basement-level subway corridor had no access to food, water, working air conditioning, or restrooms, and limited cell service. A pilot said his busiest flight the previous day departed with 50 passengers on a 220-seat aircraft and that other flights were even emptier.

TSA employees are expected to miss their second full paycheck on the upcoming Friday due to the partial government shutdown. The federal government has been under a partial shutdown for six weeks.

After the shutdown began 39 days earlier, TSA employees received a partial paycheck equal to half their pay. After the president signs legislation restoring funding, it will take about five business days before TSA employees see their paychecks restored. The Senate is negotiating a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and end the partial government shutdown.