TSA agents at LAX work busy holiday weekend despite government shutdown

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hundreds of thousands of government workers have been affected by the partial government shutdown, and that includes TSA agents at Los Angeles International Airport who are working the busiest travel season without pay.

At least 100,000 cars were expected to pass through LAX terminals before Sunday as part of the busiest holiday travel weekend. The busiest travel days at LAX are expected to be Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.

About 8.7 million people are expected to travel now through Wednesday nationwide. It's the 10th consecutive year for growth in terms of holiday travel volume in the U.S.

But because of the partial government shutdown, TSA agents won't be getting paid for the hours they spend dealing with the crowds.

While hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed, anyone who has a job that involves national security - such as TSA agents - can be kept on the job without pay.

The agents and other employees still on the job won't get paid for the days they've worked while there is a lapse in funding, but in the past many have been paid retroactively.

Tammy Shpall and her family left Saturday morning for the Galápagos Islands. She said she'd be extra-understanding if the TSA employees she met along the way weren't feeling the holiday spirit.

"It's always stressful,"Shpall said. "They have a very important job in protecting us and so I think it will add even more stress, but I also think it's really important that people care about what they do."