The TSA fiasco is an appalling example of how we treat essential workers

Harassment and small paychecks have long been the norm. But in this case, the partial government shutdown is also creating a dysfunctional—even unsafe—atmosphere for airport customers.

Amid the partial government shutdown, at least 61,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are going without pay. Regardless, the employees, who are considered essential workers, have to continue showing up to work. And over 3,000 of them—over 10% of the total agency—aren’t showing up to work at all.