Well, here we go again. Washington decides to play politics, and ordinary Americans—along with the people who keep our airports safe—end up paying the price. The CEOs of the nation’s biggest airlines are now stepping in and urging Congress to end the standoff that has left airport security officers working without pay during the latest partial government shutdown.
In a joint letter published Sunday, the chief executives of major airlines including American, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue called on Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and reach a bipartisan solution to ensure federal aviation workers are paid.
Because apparently, making sure the people protecting our airports can actually pay their rent shouldn’t be controversial—but here we are.
The letter was also signed by leaders from major cargo companies including UPS, FedEx, and Atlas Air. Together, they urged lawmakers to pass legislation such as the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, and the Keep America Flying Act.
These measures would ensure that essential aviation workers—including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers—continue receiving paychecks even if Washington decides to shut itself down again.
As the airline executives pointed out in their message, working without pay isn’t exactly sustainable.
“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,” the letter stated.
The current shutdown affects the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA. The funding dispute began after Democrats in Congress refused to fund the department due to objections to its immigration enforcement policies.
That political standoff has now placed thousands of TSA workers in a difficult position—show up to work protecting millions of travelers, but don’t expect a paycheck anytime soon.
And this isn’t the first time. In fact, it’s the third shutdown in less than a year that has left TSA workers temporarily unpaid, forcing them to wait for back pay once the government eventually reopens.
Democratic lawmakers have said DHS funding will remain blocked until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the real-world consequences are already being felt. As the shutdown drags on, long security lines have begun forming at a growing number of U.S. airports.
To make matters worse, Homeland Security reported that more than 300 TSA agents have already quit since the shutdown began—hardly surprising when people are asked to keep working while their bills pile up.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Spring break travel is underway, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is approaching, and the United States is preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary this year. Airlines expect roughly 171 million passengers to travel during the spring season alone.
In other words, this is exactly the moment when the country needs a fully functioning aviation system—not political gridlock.
Airlines are making it clear: it’s time for Congress to stop turning air travel into a political football and start supporting the workers who keep America’s skies safe.
Because at the end of the day, keeping planes flying safely and airports secure isn’t a partisan issue—it’s simply common sense. And when America’s travel system runs smoothly, it’s a win for everyone.
