ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — TSA agents continued to work even as their paychecks were irregular. A local union leader said many agents still face money troubles weeks after pay resumed.

Gabriel Ochoa, president of TSA union Local 1050 in New Mexico, said agents kept showing up and kept airports safe despite the pay problems. “So they haven’t been paid for half of the fiscal year, and the problem with this shutdown is they’re being held as political hostages over something that has nothing to do with them,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa said that before the president ordered back pay, some agents fell behind on mortgage, rent and car payments. He added that even after receiving back pay, many have not yet caught up.

“So my members, and I’m sure TSA agents across the country, feel as though there’s no loyalty,” Ochoa said.

Travel professionals say the pay disruption is changing how some people plan trips. Travel agent Akshay Patel said customers are more likely to pick road trips or U.S.-based options now. “For instance, we have the war going on, which also affected the oil. Then we also have the TSA issue, which is slowing down airports, people missing their flights. So I just feel like this time around, there’s just so many more factors, you know? So for some people’s travel, the oil might not be affecting their travel, but then missing their flight for TSA or delayed at the airport is what’s affecting them,” Patel said.

Patel, who has worked in the travel industry for more than a decade, said cruise bookings show a clear shift. “So if you go on our front page, you can see the first cruise leaves out of Los Angeles, and I think for the first 90 pages of cruises, it’s all going to be U.S.-based cruises. European cruises will come on there, they’re just going to be towards the end, we’re just hoping people find something in the first 90 pages from the U.S.,” he said.

He also said travelers are choosing higher-priced rooms that offer more flexible cancellation and refund policies. “So what I’ve noticed in our system is that a lot of those rooms have been taken out for a while, and we’re getting more of the little bit higher priced rooms, but they have more flexibility in cancellations and money back and stuff like that,” Patel said.

Patel noted some clients canceled international plans after missing a flight. He also said Albuquerque’s Sunport did not see major delays during the paycheck stoppage. He hopes Congress approves funding before the next round of paychecks runs out.

The situation leaves TSA workers and travelers in a fragile spot. Union leaders say agents need assurances of fair treatment. Travelers and agents alike are watching lawmakers for a permanent fix.