ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — One day after paychecks started to hit for TSA workers, lines were short early Tuesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

For much of the past two weeks, the airport has been plagued with long lines and staff shortages connected to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

On Monday, Atlanta News First spoke to TSA workers who said that they had gotten their paychecks finally, but there’s money missing: TSA workers are getting two full missed paychecks from March, but not the partial missed payment from February.

Aaron Barker, an Atlanta-based union leader for local American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents TSA workers, said the paychecks won’t replace the financial uncertainty that now has become inherent with the job.

“I do think that there is going to be a mass exodus of officers, not all at one time, but I do think that this is going to be something that pushes officers to go and seek some more stable employment,” said Barker.

Over the past several days, TSA callouts reached as high as 40% at Atlanta’s airport as union leaders pointed to agents not being able to afford transportation and groceries.

An executive order from President Trump helps in the near term, but Atlantans will have to wait and see if the funding immediately brings TSA staffing levels back to normal.

According to Indeed, the average TSA salary in Atlanta is about $48,000 per year. More than 450 TSA agents have quit their jobs since the partial shutdown began, according to federal officials.

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