By Doyinsola Oladipo and David Shepardson

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Airport security screeners working without pay during the U.S. government shutdown are in a stronger financial position than they were during the last prolonged closure in 2019, thanks to improvements in pay and benefits.

Airport delays have begun to worsen as they did during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, but higher pay and better working conditions could keep Transportation Security Administration workers in their jobs longer during the current shutdown. Even though TSA workers have not been paid for a month, there is less of a threat that lengthy travel delays will pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown this time around.

In 2021, former President Joe Biden’s administration expanded workplace rights, pay

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