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U.S. Shutdown Hits Houston Airport as Security Checkpoint Closes

U.S. Shutdown Hits Houston Airport as Security Checkpoint Closes

(Bloomberg) -- A security checkpoint at Houston’s main airport closed as the impact of the weeks-old U.S. government shutdown broadened.

The Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Terminal B closed at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday because of staffing issues tied to the shutdown, and will remain shut all day, George Bush Intercontinental Airport said in a statement. The terminal’s ticketing counter is also closed.

About 800,000 federal workers missed their pay for the first time Friday as the fallout spread from a stoppage that began Dec. 22. Miami International Airport last week told passengers to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights because of the uncertainties caused by the lapse in federal funding. While normal operations will resume on Monday at one of Miami’s concourses, more disruption is possible, the airport said.

Democrats and President Donald Trump remain at loggerheads. Party leaders say they won’t agree to fund any kind of wall or barrier between the U.S. and Mexico beyond what’s already in place, and Trump insists he won’t agree to reopen the government until the wall is funded.

--With assistance from Kyunghee Park.

To contact the reporter on this story: Angus Whitley in Sydney at awhitley1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anand Krishnamoorthy at anandk@bloomberg.net

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