IT MIGHT seem impossible, but America's political leaders have figured out a way to make airport security even more maddening: furlough tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
The TSA, which is responsible for screening air passengers, is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has found itself at the centre of a political fight. The DHS has been tasked with carrying out President Barack Obama's plan temporarily to shield millions of unauthorised immigrants from deportation. Congress must reauthorise funding for the department by February 27th. Republicans, who control both houses, have advanced bills that would fund the DHS—but also block Mr Obama's plans. The president has said he won't sign any reauthorisation that blocks his immigration actions. A partial government shutdown looms. (In the most recent edition of The Economist our Lexington columnist argued that "Congress should do its job and fund the DHS.")
