March 16, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs of major U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines’ Ed Bastian, United Airlines’ Scott Kirby, American Airlines’ Robert Isom, and Southwest Airlines’ Bob Jordan, sent an open letter to Congress on March 15 demanding an immediate end to the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), now nearly 30 days long since February 14. The executives cited severe TSA staffing shortages from unpaid workers, hundreds quitting, and security lines stretching two to four hours at major airports.
The letter, signed by 10 airline leaders including those from JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air, and Airlines for America, described TSA officers receiving “$0 paychecks” as “simply unacceptable.” It warned of doubled absences, over 300 TSA agents quitting, and risks to peak travel seasons expecting 171 million spring passengers, the FIFA World Cup 2026, and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
“The extraordinarily long security lines at our nation’s airports are simply unacceptable and untenable.”
Airports like Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Houston (HOU), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) have reported the longest delays, leading to widespread flight delays and missed connections.
Proposed Legislation
The CEOs urged passage of the Keep America Flying Act to ensure pay for TSA officers during shutdowns, along with the Aviation Funding Solvency and Stability Acts for air traffic controllers (ATC). This marks the second such plea in less than six months, as noted in Barron’s coverage.
Public Support and Broader Impacts
A 93% public approval for paying federal aviation workers during shutdowns was highlighted, per an AlphaROC poll. Airlines reported prior flight cuts of up to 10% due to similar issues, per Simple Flying.
Major U.S. Airlines Send a Clear Message to Congress through this unified action, as detailed in Yahoo Travel, emphasizing threats to aviation safety and economy.
Social Media Reaction
On X, Airlines for America shared the letter, while Daily Mail noted “hundreds of TSA agents QUIT amid shutdown,” with posts gaining thousands of views. Accounts like Epoch Times and Off The Press amplified calls for resolution amid spring break chaos, per Aeronautics Online.