WASHINGTON — Travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) continued to experience relatively short security lines Thursday, with wait times under five minutes at all checkpoints, even as a partial government shutdown caused hours-long delays at other major U.S. airports.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority reported minimal waits across Terminal 1 and both North and South checkpoints in Terminal 2 as of early Thursday afternoon. General TSA lines and TSA PreCheck lanes each showed less than five minutes, according to the airport’s real-time security tracker. This stands in contrast to severe disruptions elsewhere, where some hubs saw waits exceeding three to four hours.
DCA, which serves as a primary gateway for business and government travelers to the nation’s capital, has so far avoided the worst of the staffing shortages plaguing the Transportation Security Administration during the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Airport officials and local reports indicated that lines remained manageable into late March 2026, though conditions can shift quickly during peak hours.
Current Conditions at Reagan National
As of the most recent updates on Thursday, March 26, 2026:
Terminal 1 (A Gates): General TSA and PreCheck waits both under 5 minutes.
Terminal 2 South (B, C, D, E Gates): General TSA under 5 minutes; PreCheck under 5 minutes.
Terminal 2 North (B, C, D, E Gates): General TSA under 5 minutes; PreCheck under 5 minutes.
These figures come directly from the official flyreagan.com security information page, which updates frequently. Independent trackers and news outlets confirmed similar short waits, describing DCA as one of the brighter spots in the DMV region amid broader national challenges.
Peak periods at DCA — typically early mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and late afternoons — can still see modest increases, but recent data showed averages remaining well below 15-20 minutes even during busier windows. CLEAR biometric lanes and TSA PreCheck continued to offer additional speed for enrolled travelers.
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Broader Context of Shutdown Impact
The partial government shutdown has led to elevated TSA officer call-out rates nationwide, sometimes exceeding 40% at heavily affected airports such as Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. TSA Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill described the situation as producing the agency’s longest wait times in its 24-year history during congressional testimony this week.
Many TSA officers, deemed essential workers, continue reporting for duty without regular paychecks, prompting some to seek second jobs or miss shifts. This has forced reduced checkpoint operations at numerous locations, with lines stretching outside terminals in extreme cases. ICE agents have been deployed at some airports to provide support, including at Reagan National and Dulles.
In the Washington region, however, Reagan National, Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) have reported more stable conditions so far. Local news outlets noted that while travelers should remain vigilant, DCA has not seen the multi-hour backups plaguing other hubs. Still, officials urged passengers to monitor real-time updates, as staffing fluctuations can cause sudden changes.
Tips for Smooth Security at DCA
Airport and TSA officials recommend the following for travelers departing from Reagan National:
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Arrive early: Plan to reach the airport at least two hours before domestic flights, even with current short waits. Allow three hours for international departures.
Check real-time data: Visit flyreagan.com/travel-information/security-information for official checkpoint updates. The MWAA mobile app also provides live information alongside flight status and terminal maps.
Use expedited options: Enroll in TSA PreCheck or CLEAR Plus to reduce screening time. PreCheck lanes allow travelers to keep shoes, belts and light jackets on, while laptops and liquids often stay in bags.
Prepare your belongings: Follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule and pack efficiently to avoid additional screening. Remove large electronics and place them in bins promptly.
Monitor apps: Download the MyTSA app for crowd-sourced reports and historical trends, though official airport trackers tend to be more accurate for DCA.
Stay informed: Sign up for airline alerts and check Transport for updates on any downstream flight delays that could affect connections.
CLEAR lanes operate at multiple locations in both terminals, with hours generally from early morning until evening. TSA PreCheck availability is strong at DCA, though lanes may consolidate during very low-volume periods.
Airport Operations and Passenger Experience
Reagan National handles a high volume of short-haul and business flights, with strict perimeter security rules and a no general aviation policy that contribute to its relatively controlled environment. The airport’s three security checkpoints are well-distributed across terminals, helping prevent extreme bottlenecks even during moderate surges.
Travelers reported mixed but generally positive experiences in recent days, with many clearing security quickly compared to horror stories from other cities. However, the shutdown’s duration raises concerns about potential erosion of staffing stability if the funding impasse continues.
DCA’s proximity to downtown Washington makes it popular for day trips and quick government-related travel, increasing sensitivity to any delays. The airport authority continues to coordinate with TSA and has emphasized safety as the top priority.
Outlook and Recommendations
While DCA has fared better than many peers during the current disruptions, travelers should not assume consistently short lines. Early morning and post-lunch rushes, combined with any sudden staffing dips, can extend waits. Those with tight connections or traveling during spring break periods should build in extra buffer time.
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If the shutdown resolves soon, TSA staffing could stabilize relatively quickly, but experts note it may take days or weeks for full recovery at harder-hit locations. In the interim, proactive planning remains the best defense against missing a flight.
Passengers facing issues can contact TSA directly via the MyTSA app or AskTSA on social media. For non-security emergencies, reach airport customer service or local authorities.
Reagan National’s relatively smooth operations this week provide some relief for DMV-area flyers amid a challenging national travel environment. Still, vigilance and preparation will help ensure a stress-free departure.
Ascentage Pharma Group International (AAPG) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 26, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Yuly Chen Dajun Yang – Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Veet Misra – Chief Financial Officer Zhichao Si – Head of Commercial
Conference Call Participants
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Lut Ming Cheng – JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Biren Amin – Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division Supawat Thongthip – Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division Jeet Mukherjee – BTIG, LLC, Research Division Matthew Biegler – Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Research Division Christopher Liu – Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, Research Division Michael King – Rodman & Renshaw Research
Presentation
Operator
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Good day, everyone, and welcome to Ascentage Pharma’s 2025 Annual Results Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, today’s call is being recorded.
Thank you for joining us. I will now turn the call over to Yuly Chen, Senior Director of Investor Relations for the safe harbor statement. Yuly, please go ahead.
Yuly Chen
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Thank you, operator. Please note that today’s discussion will include forward-looking statements based on our current expectations and assumptions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially. For a full discussion of these risks, please refer to our filings and disclosures.
On today’s call, I am joined by Dr. Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO, who will provide an overview of recent developments and 2025 annual performance. As well as Dr. Veet Misra, CFO, who will go through the financial highlights. The presentation will then be followed by a Q&A session. During the Q&A session, the team will be joined by Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Shaomeng Wang, Cofounder, Chief Scientific Adviser, Dr. Zhichao Si, Head of Commercial, I will now turn the call over to Dr. Yang.
Dajun Yang Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO
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Thank you. Good morning. I’m Dajun Yang, Chairman and CEO of the company. Today, I’m very
Several U.S. cities could soon see major underground transportation upgrades led by billionaire Elon Musk’s The Boring Company (TBC).
In a Tuesday post on X, the construction company named the winners of its nationwide “Tunnel Vision Challenge,” naming New Orleans, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas, as candidates for new transportation systems.
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“Thanks again to all of the participants — your enthusiasm and positivity has been inspiring for the TBC team,” the company wrote.
Baltimore, Maryland, was initially named as a winner, but TBC later announced Wednesday that the project will not move forward following early discussions.
A Tesla Inc. electric vehicle is driven through The Boring Company’s Las Vegas Convention Center Loop during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 5, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty)
The next phase will involve collaboration with local officials and regulators, along with geotechnical borings to determine feasibility.
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In a Wednesday update, TBC provided additional details on its early discussions with local leaders in both Dallas and New Orleans, saying both proposed projects had “great initial meetings.”
Two additional cities — Hendersonville, Tennessee, and San Antonio, Texas — remain under consideration as discussions continue.
Elon Musk attends the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center on June 16, 2023, in Paris, France. (Chesnot/Getty Images)
The challenge, which launched in January, invited proposals for a one-mile tunnel concept, with the winning concept promised a free build.
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Separately, TBC was recently selected to begin negotiations on a proposed underground transit system connecting Universal Orlando’s parks.
The company’s most notable project is the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop, which opened in 2021 after about a year of construction.
Argan, Inc. (AGX) Q4 2026 Earnings Call March 26, 2026 5:00 PM EDT
Company Participants
David Watson – CEO, President & Director Joshua Baugher – Senior VP, CFO & Treasurer
Conference Call Participants
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Jennifer Belodeau – Institutional Marketing Services, Inc. Robert Brown – Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC, Research Division Christopher Moore – CJS Securities, Inc. Ati Modak – Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division Michael Fairbanks – JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
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Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Argan, Inc. earnings release conference call for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. This call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] There is a slide presentation that accompanies today’s remarks, which can be accessed via the webcast.
At this time, it’s my pleasure to turn the floor over to your host for today, John Nesbett and Jennifer Belodeau of IMS Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Jennifer Belodeau Institutional Marketing Services, Inc.
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Thank you. Good evening, and welcome to our conference call to discuss Argan’s results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. On the call today, we have David Watson, Chief Executive Officer; and Josh Baugher, Chief Financial Officer.
I’ll take a moment to read the safe harbor statement. Statements made during this conference call and presented in the presentation that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, projections or statements of future goals and targets regarding the company’s revenues and profits. These statements are subject to known and unknown factors and risks. The company’s actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, and some of the factors and risks that could cause or contribute to such material differences have been described in this afternoon’s press release and in Argan’s
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The impact of the Iran war on global oil prices could push the rate of inflation facing U.S. consumers higher, which would leave Federal Reserve policymakers in a difficult spot as they weigh possible interest rate cuts.
An analysis by economists at Goldman Sachs projected that Brent crude oil prices, a common benchmark for the global oil market, are expected to remain elevated, averaging $105 a barrel in March and $115 in April before falling to $80 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026. That’s based on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remaining very low for six weeks.
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In an adverse scenario where oil flows are disrupted for 10 weeks, the firm estimates Brent oil would peak at $140 a barrel and decline to $100 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026. A severely adverse scenario that includes disruptions for 10 weeks and infrastructure damage is a persistent hit to oil production would yield a peak at $160 a barrel and put oil at $115 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“Most of the impact of the war on U.S. inflation will come from higher oil prices,” the Goldman economists said, noting that their “rule of thumb is that a 10% increase in oil prices raises headline PCE inflation by 0.2pp and core inflation by 0.04pp,” with much of the rise coming from transportation costs.
Inflation is expected to be higher this year in Goldman Sachs’ updated forecast due to the oil price shock caused by the Iran war. (AFP via Getty Images)
Goldman Sachs’ analysis also included a look at other commodities like fertilizer that could have higher costs due to limits on exports from the Gulf. It estimated that higher fertilizer prices could boost food prices by about 1.5% this year, raising headline inflation by 0.1 percentage point.
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Additionally, second-round effects stemming from higher inflation expectations could boost inflation by 0.1 of a percentage point by the end of 2026 under the baseline scenario, or 0.4 of a percentage point under the severely adverse scenario.
Those factors could push the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge higher. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index was up 2.8% on a headline basis in January, while core PCE, which excludes volatile measures of food and energy, was up 3.1% in January. Both figures were well above the Fed’s long-run target of 2% inflation, and policymakers opted against cutting rates at their last two meetings given the elevated readings.
The Goldman Sachs economists’ analysis finds that, given higher oil prices, the impact on food prices and the more mild impact of other commodities and inflation expectations, they raised their December 2026 PCE inflation estimate by 0.2pp to 3.1% in the baseline scenario.
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In the adverse scenario, PCE inflation would be 3.6% in December after peaking at 4.6% this spring, while the severely adverse scenario would leave PCE inflation at 4% at the end of the year after peaking at 4.9%.
The firm also raised its core PCE inflation forecast to 2.5% at the end of the year in the baseline scenario, while it would be 2.6% in December under the adverse and severely adverse scenarios.
The flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has been constrained during the Iran war. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)
Goldman Sachs also lowered its forecast for economic growth, reducing 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 2.1% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period the prior year or 2.4% on a full-year basis under the baseline scenario. The GDP growth forecast would fall to 1.9% fourth quarter-to-fourth quarter in the adverse scenario and 1.8% in the severely adverse scenario.
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The firm also raised its 12-month recession probability by 5 percentage points to 30%.
The economists didn’t alter their baseline forecast for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which featured two 25 basis point rate cuts in September and December. They explained that they expect the unemployment rate to rise to 4.6%, above the 4.4% median projection of Fed policymakers at their latest meeting.
However, they did raise the probability of the Fed staying on hold this year from 20% to 25%, while lowering the probability of insurance cuts from 15% to 10%, due to the relatively higher inflation readings they anticipate.
Five Guys is rewarding employees after an unexpectedly overwhelming promotion put heavy pressure on store crews.
The burger chain said it was distributing about $1.5 million in bonuses to workers after a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deal on Feb. 17, which was launched to celebrate its 40th anniversary but quickly exceeded expectations.
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“The promotion spread far beyond what we anticipated, and our hardworking crews were placed in a difficult situation,” Five Guys said in a Feb. 18 statement.
Chefs fry bacon on a griddle in the kitchen at Five Guys in London July 2, 2013. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The company noted some locations ran out of food, closed early and experienced online ordering issues.
“We also want to recognize the incredible men and women working in our restaurants,” the statement continued. “They handled it with the same grit and dedication that has defined Five Guys for four decades.”
Jerry Murrell, founder of Five Guys, poses for a photo in London July 2, 2013. (Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CEO Jerry Murrell told Fortune he wrote 1,500 bonus checks, acknowledging the company underestimated demand and wanting to recognize employees for handling the surge.
“I didn’t want anybody shooting me in the back or anything after the first day, because we really screwed it up. We had no idea that we were going to get that kind of response,” Murrell told the outlet.
“There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than US dollar bills bearing his name,” Bessent said. US banknotes have traditionally carried the signatures of Treasury officials.
JetBlue said on Thursday that it’s adding a new route to its offerings while also adding more flights out of one of the low-cost carrier’s Florida hubs starting this summer.
The company announced that it will expand its offerings at Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, including a new route to Cleveland, Ohio, that will offer daily service starting on July 8.
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Several existing domestic routes to and from Fort Lauderdale will see additional flight options for travelers starting when the changes take effect on either July 8 or 9.
JetBlue is adding one daily flight to each of Atlanta, Newark, Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Philadelphia. The Atlanta and Newark routes will each have four daily flights, while both Las Vegas and Philadelphia will have three per day and Jacksonville will have two. JetBlue will also add two more weekly flights to Norfolk, which will boost the frequency to once a day.
JetBlue is expanding its service offerings from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport starting this summer. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
International flights to destinations in the Caribbean will also see a boost under the change. Aruba will see four more weekly flights, up to once a day.
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An additional daily flight to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will increase the frequency to twice a day, while three more weekly flights to St. Maarten will leave that route with daily service from Fort Lauderdale.
“These latest additions reflect our ongoing strategy to build an undeniably strong and relevant network in Fort Lauderdale by adding both new destinations and more frequencies where our customers want to fly,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of revenue, network and enterprise planning at JetBlue.
“As we continue to grow in Fort Lauderdale, we’re offering customers more choice, more flexibility and a more connected network,” Shurz added.
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JetBlue’s move comes after it signaled earlier this month that it’s on track to deliver $850 to $950 million in incremental operating profit by 2027 due to its JetForward plan, which seeks to curb costs, expand its network and improve services for travelers over the long term.
JetBlue and United announced a partnership last year. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)
The airline is about two years removed from calling off a $3.8 billion merger with Spirit Airlines, after a federal judge blocked the proposed tie-up over the potential competitive impact and antitrust concerns.
JetBlue and United Airlines announced a partnership last year that allows travelers to book flights on both carriers’ websites and interchangeably earn and use points in their frequent flyer programs.
Under the partnership, JetBlue also agreed to provide United access to slots at New York City’s congested JFK International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights starting in 2027.
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