Major U.S. airports are beginning to return to normal operations as TSA workers start receiving back pay following directives from President Trump. This move comes after a prolonged government shutdown that left many TSA agents without pay, leading to significant delays and chaos at airports. Wait times have improved significantly, dropping from hours to mere minutes in some locations. However, challenges remain as some TSA employees still await their paychecks and staffing shortages continue due to illness and walkouts. While the improvement in processing times at security checkpoints is noted, travelers are warned that lingering effects from the shutdown may still lead to delays in the coming days or weeks.