Jamestown Regional Airport Director Says Federal Funding Lapse Poses No Closure Threat

Katie Hemmer, director of Jamestown Regional Airport, told regional reporters Wednesday that the airport does not foresee being forced to close despite a partial U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding lapse that has left Transportation Security Administration staff working without pay.

Hemmer's reassurance came as airports across the country have faced uncertainty over TSA staffing amid the federal funding disruption. The lapse, tied to a partial DHS budget shortfall, has strained TSA operations nationally by leaving screeners and other personnel without paychecks, raising concerns about whether smaller regional airports could maintain the federally mandated security presence required to keep commercial air service running.

Jamestown Regional Airport, which serves Stutsman County and the surrounding region, depends on TSA personnel to screen passengers and maintain compliance with federal aviation security requirements. Without that presence, the airport would not be able to operate commercial flights.

Hemmer addressed those concerns directly on March 19, signaling that the airport's operations remain stable for now. She did not indicate how long that stability could hold if the funding lapse continues or deepens, but her statement offered reassurance to travelers and businesses that rely on Jamestown Regional for access to connecting flights and regional commerce.

The TSA funding situation remains unresolved at the federal level, and airports like Jamestown Regional will be watching closely as Congress and the administration work to address the shortfall.