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Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026

Is security at the Sioux Falls airport being paid during partial shutdown?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
yes

Security agents at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport are being paid during the partial government shutdown that is affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

The Sioux Falls airport is one of 20 across the United States that uses a private company for security screenings and not Transportation Security Administration agents. Instead, the airport participates in the Screening Partnership Program.

“This program is funded for the year, so our screeners continue to receive pay,” airport executive director Dan Letellier told SiouxFalls.Business, adding that security agents in Sioux Falls receive the same TSA training. 

Major airports that privatize security include San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport in Missouri.

TSA agents have not been paid since the partial shutdown started on Feb. 14, leading to more than 450 agents quitting and others being absent. On Sunday, almost 12% of workers TSA agents didn’t show up to work.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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