Video footage emerged Saturday showing House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark being escorted past TSA security lines at a Washington-area airport, avoiding the long waits plaguing travelers nationwide amid a partial government shutdown.

The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, depicts Clark and her staff proceeding through a restricted path while regular passengers faced extended delays due to TSA staffing shortages.

The Department of Homeland Security has operated without full funding since February 14, marking 43 days as of Saturday, the longest such lapse in U.S. history tied to a single agency. The impasse stems from disputes over immigration enforcement funding, with Democrats pushing reforms like judicial warrants for entries and body cameras for agents following a January border incident.

TSA agents, working without pay, have seen high callout rates and resignations, leading to hours-long lines at major airports. At Baltimore-Washington International, officials urged passengers to arrive four hours early due to checkpoint bottlenecks. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing pay for TSA workers starting Monday, bypassing Congress temporarily.

Clark has repeatedly criticized House Republicans for the disruptions. Two days ago, she took the House floor, calling it a 'Republican TSA shutdown' and urging an end to the 'insanity.' She accused GOP leaders of refusing a Senate-passed bill that funded most DHS operations but excluded immigration enforcement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the Senate plan Friday, instead passing a short-term bill funding all DHS functions for 60 days. The measure awaits Senate action as lawmakers depart for spring break. Democrats, including Clark, have promoted a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate version.

The VIP treatment for lawmakers has drawn scrutiny before. Airport courtesy escorts for Congress were suspended earlier in the shutdown, but footage suggests some continue to receive expedited screening. Similar videos showed Sen. Bernie Sanders in first class and Senate Majority Leader John Thune with an escort.

Neither Clark's office nor TSA immediately responded to requests for comment on the airport incident. The shutdown persists, with travelers advised to plan for delays over the weekend.