Automatic spending cuts set to take effect March 1 could lead to major headaches the next time you fly.
Congress has until next Friday to agree to a budget before more than $85 billion in funding is stripped from federal agencies over the next seven months.
The TSA is one of the agencies that could get hit hard.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned that if his agency has to cut back, travelers will pay the price one way or another.
“Obviously, as always, safety is our top priority and we will never allow the amount of air travel we can handle safely to take off and land which means travelers should expect delays. Flights to major cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco and others could experience delays of up to 90 minutes during peak hours because we have fewer controllers on staff,” said LaHood.
“Delays in these airports will ripple across the country,” he added.
LaHood said the across the board cuts could also mean longer security and customs lines at the airport.
President Barack Obama called on Congress to replace the cuts with tax increases and targeted reductions. Congressional Republicans oppose raising more tax revenue.
Information from the Associated Press and CNN was used in this report.