March 15, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs of 10 major U.S. passenger and cargo airlines published an open letter in The Washington Post, Airline CEOs Publish Open Letter Urging Congress to Pay Federal Aviation Workers During Government Shutdowns, calling on Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid a 29-day partial government shutdown and enact bipartisan legislation to guarantee pay for federal aviation workers such as TSA officers, Customs officers, and air traffic controllers during future shutdowns.
Airlines for America (A4A) announced the letter, signed by executives from American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air. The full letter highlights severe disruptions from the shutdown, which began February 13, 2026, over disputes on immigration reform.
Impacts on TSA and Air Travel
A4A’s March 13 statement noted that approximately 50,000 TSA officers received $0 paychecks, leading to over 300 resignations, security lines exceeding two hours at airports like Houston Hobby and Newark, and checkpoint closures. A4A President and CEO Chris Sununu stated:
This failure of government to simply pay federal aviation employees is wrong… TSA employees have to put food on the table… Media reports include stories of TSA workers quitting… Let’s all make it a priority to pack our patience and thank them.
The letter warns of risks to spring break travel, projecting 171 million passengers, a 4% year-over-year increase.
Strong Public Support
New national polling cited by A4A shows 90% of Americans support paying TSA workers during shutdowns, with 93% of constituents and 88% of Americans backing the measure, as highlighted in A4A’s announcement.
Shutdown Background and Reactions
The Guardian reported the shutdown’s origins in immigration agent shootings, with CEOs describing air travel as a “political football.”The Guardian Reuters covered failed Senate funding votes and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s comments, referencing flight cuts from a prior 43-day shutdown.Reuters Coverage also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and Business Insider, emphasizing unacceptable $0 paychecks and long lines.
On X, A4A’s official account promoted the letter amid record travel,X post while outlets like Epoch Times and others shared updates.
