With hundreds quitting the Transportation Security Administration, lawmakers face a funding deadline as airport lines grow.

TSA agents have not been paid since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partly shut down on February 14, after Democrats balked at funding the agency and demanded changes to immigration enforcement by federal agents following the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

The Trump administration announced the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to US airports amid the partial government shutdown.

Problems at U.S. airports could worsen beyond hours-long security lines and missed flights if Congress does not agree on a way to pay Transportation Security Administration officers. Federal officials have warned that staffing shortages may close some smaller airports to passengers and commercial flights.

Nearly 40% of the security staff at the George Bush airport did not show up - the highest such rate in the country, US media report.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Homeland Security Department said on Friday it was taking emergency action to pay 50,000 airport security officers who have gone unpaid since mid-February,

Navigating airports is stressful enough, but this U.S. airport was recently ranked the most stressful in the world. In this video, learn how Newark International Airport was ranked the most stressful airport in a recent study with problems ranging from poor baggage claim scores to numerous flight cancellations.

The agents are being sent to at least 14 airports, including in New York, Chicago and Atlanta, to assist overstretched transport security officials.

The US Senate moved Friday to end a budget standoff that has forced thousands of airport security staff to work without pay and caused long delays at airports. A lapse in government funding has left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff -- who screen passengers,