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• Several US airports experienced hourslong TSA lines and delays on Sunday and Monday.
• Some passengers were advised to arrive at least three hours before their scheduled departure.
• TSA has been experiencing staffing shortages amid the partial government shutdown.

Passengers traveling through Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, and other US airports experienced hourslong delays on Sunday and Monday as spring break travel peaked and the Transportation Security Administration experienced staffing shortages due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Nearly 2.8 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints on Sunday, making it the agency’s busiest day since January 4. The partial government shutdown, which began in February, has also left TSA security checkpoints short-staffed into Monday as employees call in sick rather than work without pay.

“Southwest texted me early that morning to expect up to 3-hour lines, so I left early,” Chris Fenton, who traveled through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Sunday, told Business Insider via direct message on X. “I never expected to see what I saw, though.”

The lines stretched from the security checkpoints, down an escalator, and out to the parking garage, snaking around the entire terminal multiple times, Fenton said. After reaching the TSA PreCheck and Clear lines, wait times extended by another 30 minutes.

While the airport is usually well prepared for busy travel times, like Sundays and the spring break season, the scale of the lines was “somewhat shocking,” Fenton said.

His total wait time was about an hour, but he said passengers without TSA PreCheck might have waited twice as long.

Some airports continued to advise passengers to anticipate longer-than-usual wait times on Monday, though the worst delays appeared to have eased, and not all airports appear to be impacted. While Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport told passengers to plan to arrive at least three hours before their flights, NOLA.com staff writer Justin Mitchell reported that it took him about one hour to get through security on Monday morning.

The TSA and the US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Photos showed the crowded airports amid the extended wait times.

On Sunday, passengers at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston waited in hourslong lines to get through airport security.

Airlines warned travelers of prolonged wait times on Sunday as the TSA experienced its busiest travel day since January 4 while grappling with staffing shortages.

The airport attributed the delays to the partial federal government shutdown.

Lines stretched outside the airport terminal and into the parking garage.

The Houston airport used green balloons to indicate the TSA PreCheck lines.

The standard TSA lines were marked with red balloons to help direct traffic.

William P. Hobby Airport warned passengers on Monday that TSA PreCheck lines “may extend beyond two hours.”

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport warned of “longer-than-average” wait times.

Travelers were advised to arrive at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure.

The airport said that wait times could reach 2 hours and that delays may persist throughout the rest of the week.

Passengers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport also encountered longer-than-usual lines on Monday morning.

• Some US airports are warning travelers about long TSA lines.
• The delays come as TSA agents, facing a missed paycheck amid the partial government shutdown, are not coming to work.
• Houston Hobby and New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport both warned of major delays.

The effects of the partial government shutdown were on display in some US airports starting on Sunday.

As TSA agents are expected to miss their first full paycheck on Saturday because of the partial shutdown, which started in February, some are not coming in to work. It’s resulting in long lines in some airports, and it comes as air travel hits the busy spring break period.

In X posts on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, described the situation as “spring break under siege” and shared photos of throngs of people waiting in an airport.

For now, the chaos appears largely localized to a handful of airports — but travelers should expect lines across the US to worsen the longer the security officers work without pay.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired in mid-February after Democratic lawmakers demanded changes to federal immigration enforcement efforts.

TSA agents also worked without pay during the record government shutdown in October and November, and received their back pay once the government reopened.

Here’s a look at some of the airports where travelers can expect longer TSA wait times.

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.

• Brazilian startup fund Shiva has raised $10 million to invest in niche software startups.
• Founder Lucas Marques is betting that diverse, tiny teams can compete on the global stage.
• Shiva will fund founders with monthly grants, capping each investment at $300,000.

A Brazilian startup fund is betting that AI has made large headcounts and funding rounds unnecessary to compete on the global stage.

Shiva, named for the Hindu god of transformation, has raised $10 million to back AI startups of one to three people — which it calls “Stars” — and arm them with monthly stipends rather than large, upfront checks.

Brazilian entrepreneur Lucas Marques founded Shiva, backed by venture firm Monashees. He believes AI can create opportunities for founders from disadvantaged backgrounds by dramatically reducing operating costs.

AI startup founders and Big Tech companies have increasingly shifted to forming smaller, nimble teams, favoring automation over hiring additional staff.

Marques grew up in rural Brazil and served as a partner and COO at fintech company Méliuz, which went public in 2020 as one of Brazil’s first startup initial public offerings. Shiva grew out of his work building an NGO called Programadores do Amanhã (Tomorrow’s Programmers), which teaches low-income students how to code. Shiva will similarly back entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, he said.

Shiva will fund founders of pre-seed-stage niche software companies for up to a year, with total funding per company capped at $300,000. In exchange, it will take an equity stake in each startup, capped at 15%.

Marques said smaller, profitable exits — in the $20 million to $50 million range — can still generate strong returns with minimal overhead.

Take a company with revenues of $10 million a year.

“It’s not a unicorn; it’s not enough to make IPO,” Marques said, “but it’s an amazing company for a guy from a poor background. It can change the whole city.”

If companies go on to raise future funding, Shiva doesn’t intend to stay invested long-term and will instead sell its stake in secondary transactions to recycle the capital back into the fund.

Shiva also offers mentorship and community for founders. It is in a testing phase with about 30 startups, Marques said, and it will begin deploying funds in the coming months.

One early startup in the program is FoxApply, which automates LinkedIn job applications. It has amassed roughly 600 international customers within two months, Shiva said.

Ultimately, the fund aims to back 100 startups and will continue to welcome others on a rolling basis.

Here’s a look at the pitch deck Shiva used to raise $10 million. One slide has been edited so that the deck can be shared publicly.

• Target launched its collaboration with Roller Rabbit on Saturday morning.
• I got to a store early and saw how chaotic it became when people tried to buy pieces from the line.
• Still, I was impressed with the collection and even bought a pair of pajamas for myself.

Saturday morning was cold, rainy, and gray in northern New Jersey. The only place I wanted to be was curled up and cozy with my cat.

Instead, I dragged myself out of bed, drove to Target, and got in line at 7:30 a.m. to shop the retailer’s latest designer collaboration.

Target recently partnered with Roller Rabbit, a lifestyle brand known for its $128 pajamas. If you’re unfamiliar, ask your teen relatives. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are obsessed with the brand’s vibrant aesthetic and limited-edition prints.

As a 30-year-old millennial, I only learned about the brand in December when I saw young people flaunting their Roller Rabbit pajamas in holiday gift hauls.

In the name of journalism, though, I embraced the trend and joined fans to shop its Target pieces, which retail between $2 and $250 each, in-store.

The experience was a little chaotic, but also enlightening. I think I finally understand the Roller Rabbit fascination.

The calm before the storm

Despite the cold drizzle, 12 people were waiting in line when I arrived at Target around 7:30 a.m. Within 20 minutes, nearly 30 shoppers (myself included) had gathered.

The crowd mostly included moms shopping for their tweens, a few couples, and a handful of children.

As they talked, it became clear that pajamas would be the hot-ticket item from the collection, which also included swimwear, suitcases, sweatshirts, and more.

“I’m here because I have the real ones, and these are $100 less,” I heard one shopper say.

A Target employee came outside a few minutes before the store opened at 8 a.m. and handed out paper tickets. Each could be used to redeem a free Roller Rabbit shopping bag. I didn’t know there were any freebies available, so this was a nice surprise.

Slight chaos erupted as Target’s doors opened

When the store opened, some people went straight to the employee handing out free shopping bags, while others rushed to grab the merchandise on their wish lists.

As I approached the small Roller Rabbit section, I heard one mom whisper to her tween: “Run. Go get the pajamas you want.”

There were definitely fewer items available in-store than online. I saw a few racks of clothing, tables covered with accessories, and one cart with extra merchandise.

I was able to snap a single photo before the section was swarmed.

As expected, pajamas flew off the shelves almost instantly. I saw many people grabbing handfuls and then choosing their sizes.

Their approach seemed to work better than mine. I eyed the rack for a medium and watched sets get snatched up in front of me. In the end, I was only able to grab one pair.

After the pajamas were picked through, customers turned to the line’s other offerings. I saw people grabbing sweatsets, beach towels, and water bottles.

In many cases, I heard people say they were stocking up for friends and family just in case they wanted anything. People seemed to have a “buy now, decide later” mindset.

Eventually, I left the crowd and went to Target’s dressing room to try on a few pieces of clothing.

My first impression of the line was positive. I really liked the shape and feel of the $25 terry-cloth pullover, which I could see myself wearing year-round. The $15 boxer shorts were also fun, comfortable, and multi-functional in terms of wear.

I was less impressed by the $45 drop waist midi dress, which I tried on in pink. Numerous stitches were coming apart, the fabric felt cheap, and the sizing was inconsistent. The medium was far too big, and the small didn’t fit either.

Target didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the quality.

Then it was time to finally try Roller Rabbit’s famous pajamas.

Personally, I love a matching pajama set, but I’ve never felt the need to spend more than $30 on them. It’s safe to say I wouldn’t likely splurge on regular Roller Rabbit designs, made from 100% pima cotton.

Target’s version of the brand’s PJs cost $25 and are made from 95% cotton and 5% spandex. They fit me perfectly, and I found them to be soft, cozy, and, of course, cute. I loved the little cartoon animals printed across the blue-and-white design.

Sure enough, I left with three out of the four pieces I tried on — everything except the dress. Admittedly, it was mostly FOMO (the fear of missing out) that led to my purchase.

I knew that if I didn’t buy the items I’d found in my size right then and there, my only option would be to buy them on the resale market for double the price. (Many sets are now listed on eBay for prices of $80 or more.) What if I didn’t buy them and regretted it?

Now that a few days have passed, I know that I’ll likely return the long-sleeve top. It was an impulse purchase that I like, but don’t love.

I will, however, keep the shorts and pajamas. They add fun pops of color to my wardrobe and are pretty high-quality considering the low prices.

So, have I been converted into a Roller Rabbit fan? Sort of.

I can’t say I’d buy any $128 pairs from Roller Rabbit’s website. No matter how soft they are, or how exclusive a print is, I can’t justify the price.

A Target collaboration, though, just makes sense. It’s a more accessible version of the Roller Rabbit brand that appeals to both young shoppers and curious minds like mine.

Nostalgically, the line also brought me back to a millennial version of this fad: Bobby Jack and Paul Frank pajamas at slumber parties.

In our modern world of Sephora tweens and kid influencers, it was refreshing to see young people excited about something as simple as pajamas decorated with cartoon monkeys. We’ve all been there.

• US Census data shows population growth in every state’s small towns from 2020 to 2024.
• Many of the towns are in close proximity to major cities, often within 25 miles.
• Westlake, Florida, Hoschton, Georgia, and Josephine, Texas reported the largest population growth.

The US population has grown by roughly 58 million since 2000, but the nation’s biggest cities aren’t the only areas seeing increases.

Whether it’s suburbs next to urban areas or towns that have become hot spots in their own right, all 50 states are seeing population growth in small- and medium-sized towns.

Business Insider used the latest four-year Census data, ranging from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024, to calculate the population growth percentage in each state’s towns and cities across the time period.

In the interest of avoiding municipalities with negligible populations, we focused on places with a population of more than 1,000 residents at the time of the 2020 Census. We also excluded unincorporated areas and Census-designated places belonging to a larger city. Of the 50 towns, most have populations under 20,000.

Here’s each state’s fastest-growing city or town.

Triana, Alabama

2020 population: 3,005

2024 population: 4,936

Percentage growth: 64%

Sitting in the northern region of Alabama along the Tennessee River, Triana was named the fourth-best suburb to live in Alabama by Niche, a real-estate and education ranking platform.

Wasilla, Alaska

2020 population: 9,115

2024 population: 10,318

Percentage growth: 13%

Wasilla sits roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, the state’s largest city. As of 2020, Wasilla had just 732 residents per square mile, according to Census data.

Coolidge, Arizona

2020 population: 13,433

2024 population: 19,674

Percentage growth: 46%

Coolidge sits between Phoenix and Tucson and is home to the site of the Casa Grande Ruins, containing fragments of Native American structures. Sitting in the Sonoran Desert, the town sees frequent daily temperatures above 100-degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

Tontitown, Arkansas

2020 population: 4,685

2024 population: 7,941

Percentage growth: 70%

Tontitown sits in the Ozark Mountains and hosts the annual Tontitown Grape Festival, a popular tradition dating back 128 years.

Paradise, California

2020 population: 5,089

2024 population: 9,114

Percentage growth: 79%

The rapid growth can largely be attributed to Paradise’s recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, which ravaged the community. Per the Census, the town had over 26,000 residents in 2010, and is still rebuilding after being at the heart of the deadliest fire in the state’s history.

Keenesburg, Colorado

2020 population: 1,259

2024 population: 2,054

Percentage growth: 63%

Located about 40 miles northeast of Denver, Keenesburg’s main attraction is the Wild Animal Sanctuary, a 33,000-acre refuge designed for large carnivores.

Somers, Connecticut

2020 population: 10,080

2024 population: 10,905

Percentage growth: 8%

Located on the Connecticut-Massachusetts border, Somers was originally incorporated in Massachusetts before becoming part of Connecticut in 1749, according to the city.

Cheswold, Delaware

2020 population: 1,934

2024 population: 2,537

Percentage growth: 31%

In 2000, Cheswold had just over 300 residents, per the Census.

Westlake, Florida

2020 population: 1,050

2024 population: 7,664

Percentage growth: 630%

Westlake was formerly farmland before the land was purchased by Minto Group, a real-estate company with development plans for the area. The town only officially became a municipality in 2016.

Occupying over 6 miles of land, Westlake has thousands of single-family residential homes with more under construction, according to the town.

Hoschton, Georgia

2020 population: 2,758

2024 population: 6,723

Percentage growth: 144%

Hoschton lies about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta and 30 miles northwest of Athens.

Hawai’i County, Hawaii

2020 population: 200,754

2024 population: 209,790

Percentage growth: 4.5%

Hawaii holds the distinction of being the only US state without official incorporated municipalities. The state’s towns are governed at the county level.

Of the five counties — Hawai’i, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kaua’i, and Maui — Hawai’i County, commonly known as the “Big Island,” reported the largest population growth from 2020 to 2024.

Star, Idaho

2020 population: 11,466

2024 population: 18,208

Percentage growth: 59%

Star is located just 15 miles northwest of Boise.

Wonder Lake, Illinois

2020 population: 3,970

2024 population: 5,296

Percentage growth: 33%

Wonder Lake sits just below the Illinois-Wisconsin border, about 65 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Whitestown, Indiana

2020 population: 10,350

2024 population: 14,564

Percentage growth: 41%

Whitestown, which is just over 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, is home to more than 50 acres of parks and 13 miles of trails.

Tiffin, Iowa

2020 population: 4,624

2024 population: 6,695

Percentage growth: 45%

The fast-growing suburb sits F. W. Kent County Park, a sought-after destination in the state for outdoor activities. Tiffin is located 22 miles south of Cedar Rapids.

Spring Hill, Kansas

2020 population: 3,068

2024 population: 3,843

Percentage growth: 25%

Located near Kansas City, Missouri, Spring Hill is part of both Miami and Johnson counties.

Elkton, Kentucky

2020 population: 2,064

2024 population: 2,330

Percentage growth: 13%

Nashville is the nearest major city to Elkton, located about 60 miles south of the town.

Maurice, Louisiana

2020 population: 2,185

2024 population: 3,071

Percentage growth: 41%

Maurice is just southwest of Lafayette, Louisiana’s fourth-largest city.

Greenville, Maine

2020 population: 1,441

2024 population: 1,677

Percentage growth: 16%

Far from the cities of Portland and Bangor, Greenville is located further inland at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake, the state’s largest freshwater body, according to Visit Maine. Greenville sits roughly 60 miles from the US-Canada Border.

Trappe, Maryland

2020 population: 1,176

2024 population: 1,472

Percentage growth: 25%

Trappe has seen growth in population in part because of a modern housing development, Lakeside at Trappe.

Millis, Massachusetts

2020 population: 8,501

2024 population: 9,338

Percentage growth: 9.9%

Millis, less than 30 miles southwest of Boston, saw large population growth in the first half of the decade largely due to immigration.

The state’s population as a whole is slowing due to declining immigration in the past year, the Worcester Telegram reported.

Manton, Michigan

2020 population: 1,272

2024 population: 1,530

Percentage growth: 20%

Manton was a finalist in Reader’s Digest’s “Nicest Place in America” ranking in 2021.

Dayton, Minnesota

2020 population: 7,434

2024 population: 10,744

Percentage growth: 45%

Dayton is a relatively wealthy suburb, with a high homeownership rate and a median household income of $148,947 in 2024, per 2024 Census data.

Dayton is under 30 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Sumrall, Mississippi

2020 population: 1,775

2024 population: 2,172

Percentage growth: 22%

Sumrall sits just over 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s fifth-largest city.

Rogersville, Missouri

2020 population: 3,898

2024 population: 5,344

Percentage growth: 37%

According to 2024 Census data, there’s a ratio of about 3.2 households to one resident in Rogersville, which is above the national average.

The town is located 20 miles east of Springfield.

Kalispell, Montana

2020 population: 25,267

2024 population: 31,296

Percentage growth: 24%

According to the 2024 Census data, Kalispell is the seventh-largest city in Montana by population and the eighth-largest by land area.

Hickman, Nebraska

2020 population: 2,637

2024 population: 3,285

Percentage growth: 25%

Hickman’s population has more than tripled since 2000, per the Census. The town is under 20 miles south of Lincoln, the state’s capital city.

Mesquite, Nevada

2020 population: 20,608

2024 population: 23,599

Percentage growth: 15%

Mesquite sits in the Mojave Desert and borders Arizona. The nearest major city is Las Vegas, roughly 80 miles southwest of Mesquite.

Merrimack, New Hampshire

2020 population: 26,835

2024 population: 29,367

Percentage growth: 9.4%

Merrimack is comprised of four villages.

Seaside Park, New Jersey

2020 population: 1,443

2024 population: 2,058

Percentage growth: 43%

Seaside Park neighbors Seaside Heights, a popular Jersey Shore destination known for its amusement park.

Los Lunas, New Mexico

2020 population: 17,440

2024 population: 19,907

Percentage growth: 14%

Los Lunas has held significance at different points in American history, including when it was used as a bombing range after World War II, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation.

The town is about 20 miles south of Albuquerque.

Kiryas Joel, New York

2020 population: 33,510

2024 population: 43,863

Percentage growth: 31%

Also known as Palm Tree, the village of Kiryas Joel has a predominantly Hasidic Jewish population and covers only 1.46 square miles, per the 2020 Census.

Wendell, North Carolina

2020 population: 9,991

2024 population: 16,845

Percentage growth: 69%

Wendell is within 20 miles of Raleigh, North Carolina’s second most-populous city. The growth is expected to continue, with 1,900 new homes under construction in the town, the area’s ABC 11 reported.

Horace, North Dakota

2020 population: 3,249

2024 population: 6,286

Percentage growth: 93%

Horace is a suburb of Fargo, North Dakota’s largest city by population, and is itself the 13th most populous city in the state.

South Bloomfield, Ohio

2020 population: 2,149

2024 population: 3,747

Percentage growth: 74%

South Bloomfield is located 20 miles south of Columbus.

Newcastle, Oklahoma

2020 population: 11,170

2024 population: 14,677

Percentage growth: 31%

A suburb of Oklahoma City, Newcastle appeared on 24/7 Wall St.’s “The Best City to Live in Every State” list in 2019.

Estacada, Oregon

2020 population: 4,538

2024 population: 5,591

Percentage growth: 23%

Estacada is roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland.

Westfall, Pennsylvania

2020 population: 2,533

2024 population: 3,394

Percentage growth: 34%

Westfall is located in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and borders both New Jersey and New York.

A big factor in the town’s population growth has been the spike in its Hispanic and Latino population since 2010, the Pike County Courier reported.

Glocester, Rhode Island

2020 population: 9,981

2024 population: 10,512

Percentage growth: 5.3%

Glocester, seated 20 miles northwest of Providence, contains the villages of Harmony and Chepachet.

Hardeeville, South Carolina

2020 population: 7,733

2024 population: 13,862

Percentage growth: 79%

Located under 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, Hardeeville has historically had the nickname “The Lowcountry Host” for its many hotels and accommodations for travelers, per the Hardeeville Police Department.

Harrisburg, South Dakota

2020 population: 6,847

2024 population: 10,203

Percentage growth: 49%

Harrisburg, just 10 miles south of Sioux Falls, has 3.7 miles of land area, per 2020 Census data.

Lebanon, Tennessee

2020 population: 38,894

2024 population: 51,501

Percentage growth: 32%

Located 30 minutes east of Nashville, Lebanon is becoming a population hub in its own right. The town is home to the Nashville Superspeedway and Cumberland University.

Josephine, Texas

2020 population: 2,260

2024 population: 8,807

Percentage growth: 290%

Josephine, 40 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, is experiencing a major housing boom. Companies like D.R. Horton are constructing developments with hundreds of homes, and the low cost of living in the area is attracting a lot of millennial first-time homebuyers, Business Insider’s Alcynna Lloyd reported.

Saratoga Springs, Utah

2020 population: 38,300

2024 population: 57,411

Percentage growth: 50%

Saratoga Springs sits along Utah Lake and is among Utah’s 15 most populous cities. Saratoga Springs has a reputation for safety, with its total crime rate 69% below the national average, per Best Utah Real Estate.

Newport, Vermont

2020 population: 1,582

2024 population: 2,421

Percentage growth: 53%

The town, a distinct municipality from the neighboring city of Newport, is just over 5 miles south of the US-Canada border and is one of Vermont’s least populous municipalities.

Louisa, Virginia

2020 population: 1,993

2024 population: 2,201

Percentage growth: 10%

Louisa is located roughly 50 miles northwest of Richmond.

Ridgefield, Washington

2020 population: 10,872

2024 population: 15,359

Percentage growth: 41%

Located near Vancouver, Washington, Ridgefield has a history as a Native American village site, which was visited during the Lewis and Clark expedition, the city says.

Charles Town, West Virginia

2020 population: 6,526

2024 population: 8,869

Percentage growth: 36%

Charles Town was notably founded by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of President George Washington, according to the city.

Lannon, Wisconsin

2020 population: 1,419

2024 population: 2,048

Percentage growth: 44%

Lannon’s growth can largely be attributed to new investments in the town, such as housing developments, TMJ 4 Milwaukee reported. Lannon is located about 20 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

Alpine, Wyoming

2020 population: 1,231

2024 population: 1,360

Percentage growth: 10%

Alpine sits on the Idaho-Wyoming border and is near Jackson, one of the state’s 10 most populous cities.

• The US energy secretary is working to reassure Americans that high gas prices won’t last.
• Chris Wright said the conflict in Iran is a “temporary movement,” rather than a “long-term war.”
• He said gas prices could go down “in weeks.”

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright made the morning show rounds on Sunday to downplay concerns about surging gas and oil prices, assuring Americans that the war with Iran isn’t “long-term.”

“What you are seeing is emotional reactions and fear that this is a long-term war,” Wright told “Face the Nation” on CBS News. “This is not a long-term war. This is a temporary movement.”

Wright made similar remarks in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

“The run-up on prices doesn’t have anything to do with any shortage of barrels of oil or natural gas. It’s just fear and perception, the unknown that this could be some long, drawn-out crisis, but it won’t be,” Wright said.

After the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, the Islamic Republic moved quickly to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway critical to the movement of oil around the world. About 20% of the globe’s petroleum liquids pass through the Strait.

Although there are storage tanks across the Gulf, they are already nearing capacity after a week of conflict and limited shipping options, forcing producers to reduce operations. Iraq’s oil output has shrunk by 60% since last week, Bloomberg reported. Other countries, like Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, have also reduced output.

All of this means higher gas prices for Americans. The US Energy Information Administration says gas prices averaged $2.93 on February 23. By March 2, they were at $3.15. On Sunday, they were $3.40.

During his media tour on Sunday, Wright said regular ship traffic through the Strait of Hurmoz could resume in “a few weeks,” meaning gas prices could ease sooner rather than later.

“We want it back below $3 a gallon, and it will be again before too long,” Wright told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “You never know exactly the timeframe of this, but, in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months, thing.”