A significant blizzard in late February has severely impacted airport security in the New York area, most notably at Newark Liberty International Airport and John F Kennedy International Airport. The severe weather compounded existing staffing problems due to increased absenteeism among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel. The combination of the blizzard and a continuing funding shutdown impacting the US Department of Homeland Security has resulted in significant operational challenges. HR Katha reports that the national average absence rate among TSA officers increased from two percent to six percent during the shutdown, peaking at nine percent in late February. The blizzard exacerbated this issue, resulting in even higher absence rates and disruptions in airport security procedures.