WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - Some small U.S.

airports may have to shut due to a shortage of security

screeners if a government funding impasse continues, a senior

Trump administration official said on Tuesday.

The Department of Homeland Security said overall absences

among Transportation Security Administration airport security

officers was 10.2% on Monday, close to the 10.1% whofailed to

show up for duty on Sunday.

But the absenteeism rate was much higher at some major

airports on Monday including 30% at New York's JFK, 37% at

Atlanta, 35% at Houston Hobby and 39% at New Orleans, DHS said.

Some 50,000 TSA officers have been forced to work without

pay for the last month due to the budget standoff.

"As the weeks continue, if this continues, it's not

hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut

down airports - particularly smaller ones if callout rates go

up," Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News's

"Fox and Friends."

Large airports may be able to continue security operations

by closing all but a few checkpoints, but small airports with a

single checkpoint could be unable to staff it with absenteeism

at the same rates.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday said airports "are

reaching a breaking point."

Typically, under 2% of TSA workers call in sick or do not

report to work, DHS said.

DHS said 366 TSA officers have quit their jobs.

Last fall, a 43-day government shutdown led to widespread

flight disruptions, and the FAA ordered a 10% flight cut at

major airports.

Airlines, which expect a record-breaking spring travel

season, have criticized the impasse, and airline CEOs complained

on Sunday that air travel was again a "political football."

DHS funding lapsed on February 13 after Congress failed to

reach a deal ​on immigration enforcement reforms demanded by

Democrats. Senators from both parties failed Thursday in

competing efforts ​to fund the TSA.