March 15, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs of major US airlines demand Congress end government shutdown and restore Homeland Security funding to pay TSA and airport workers, as outlined in an open letter signed by executives from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air, and Airlines for America.
The letter, addressed to Members of Congress, calls for an immediate agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid the ongoing partial government shutdown and urges passage of the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, Aviation Funding Stability Act, and Keep America Flying Act to ensure pay for TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers, and air traffic controllers during future shutdowns, according to Chicago Tribune and CNBC reports.
Key Demands and Quotes
Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown.
The signatories, including United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, emphasized public support, citing polls showing 93% of Americans favor paying federal aviation workers during shutdowns and 88% expect repeated long lines without protections.
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.
CEOs of major US airlines demand Congress end government shutdown and restore Homeland Security funding to pay TSA and airport workers, highlighting the third such shutdown in a year affecting 50,000 TSA workers, per Reuters.
Travel Disruptions
Airlines anticipate a record 171 million passengers this spring amid spring break, preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026, and America’s 250th birthday celebrations. However, TSA checkpoint wait times of 2 to 4 hours have been reported, with over 300 agents quitting, leading to delays and cancellations, as noted in The Hill.
Airlines are holding flights and rebooking passengers to mitigate issues, but the executives warned of escalating risks without action.
CEOs of major US airlines demand Congress end government shutdown and restore Homeland Security funding to pay TSA and airport workers, as echoed in AP News coverage.
Background and Context
This marks the third government shutdown impacting aviation in a year, following earlier warnings from Airlines for America on March 5. The 29-day standoff has left workers unpaid, prompting bipartisan bill proposals for funding stability.
Social media reflected the urgency, with posts from Epoch Times calling unpaid TSA work “unacceptable” and Chicago Tribune Business linking to their article.
CEOs of major US airlines demand Congress end government shutdown and restore Homeland Security funding to pay TSA and airport workers, underscoring broad consensus amid record travel demands, per USA Today.
