March 16, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs from major U.S. passenger and cargo airlines urged Congress to end the 29-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immediately fund TSA operations, citing severe disruptions to air travel and risks to aviation security.
In an open letter published March 15 via Airlines for America, executives including Delta’s Ed Bastian, United’s Scott Kirby, American Airlines’ Robert Isom, Southwest’s Bob Jordan, JetBlue’s Joanna Geraghty, Alaska Air’s Ben Minicucci, FedEx’s Richard W. Smith, UPS’s Nando Cesarone, and Atlas Air’s Michael Steen highlighted the plight of approximately 50,000 unpaid TSA officers, with over 300 resignations reported. The plea comes as spring break travel surges, with airlines expecting a record 171 million passengers through April, leading to hours-long security lines, delays, and cancellations [1] [3].
Shutdown Impacts on TSA and Travelers
The executives noted TSA officers received $0 paychecks, making it “difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent.” Wait times at checkpoints have reached 2, 3, and even 4 hours, prompting airlines to hold flights and rebook passengers.
Americans—who live in your districts and home states—are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown. Yet, once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown.
The letter warned of heightened stakes with upcoming events like spring break, the FIFA World Cup 2026, and America’s 250th birthday celebrations [4].
Calls for Immediate Action and Legislation
The CEOs called for Congress to “immediately come together to reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security” and pass three bills: the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, Aviation Funding Stability Act for air traffic controllers, and Keep America Flying Act for TSA officers to ensure pay during future shutdowns [6].
TSA officers who are tasked every day with keeping Americans secure in the skies.
Public support is strong, with polling showing 93% of Americans favoring pay for federal aviation workers during shutdowns and 88% expecting repeated long lines if TSA remains unpaid [1].
Broader Coverage and Reactions
The letter drew widespread media attention, with reports from USA Today, CNBC, AP News, The Guardian, and others. On X, USA Today and Epoch Times shared coverage, amplifying the US Airline CEOs’ urge to Congress to end the government shutdown and fund TSA operations.
The story underscores ongoing shutdown debates, with airlines positioning air travel as a bipartisan priority [2].
