March 16, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs from major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air Group, FedEx, UPS and Atlas Air, urged Congress on March 15 to end the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, fund the TSA and pay 50,000 unpaid officers to avert widespread airport disruptions.
In an open letter published via Airlines for America and printed in The Washington Post, the executives warned of “extraordinarily long and painfully slow” security lines, staff shortages and risks to record spring travel volumes.
There are very few issues upon which 9 out of 10 Americans agree. However, in recent polling, 93 percent of your constituents across the country supported paying federal aviation workers during government shutdowns.
The letter, signed by leaders such as American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, Delta CEO Ed Bastian, United CEO Scott Kirby and Southwest President Bob Jordan, cited a recent poll showing 88 percent of Americans expect repeated long lines if TSA officers work without pay.
Reported Disruptions
Executives noted TSA officers received $0 paychecks during the 29-day shutdown, leading to over 300 resignations since February. Travelers faced wait times of 2, 3 or 4 hours at checkpoints, prompting airlines to hold flights and rebook passengers, according to Reuters and USA Today.
TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. 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.
U.S. airlines anticipate 171 million passengers this spring, a record amid spring break, upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations and America’s 250th birthday events.
Proposed Solutions
The CEOs called for immediate DHS funding and passage of bipartisan bills: the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and Aviation Funding Stability Act to ensure air traffic controllers’ pay, and the Keep America Flying Act for TSA protections during shutdowns, as covered by CNBC.
Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others. It’s past time for the government to make sure that TSA officers… are paid for the job they do.
Broader Coverage and Reaction
The plea drew widespread media attention, with The Guardian emphasizing unpaid staff impacts and AP News noting calls for permanent pay guarantees. On X, posts from Epoch Times and finance accounts amplified the story, highlighting market effects on airline stocks.
