March 15, 2026 — Washington — CEOs from major U.S. airlines and aviation firms, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air Group, FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air Worldwide, and Airlines for America, issued a joint open letter to Congress calling for an end to the 29-day partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They demanded funding to pay TSA screeners, Customs officers, and air traffic controllers amid widespread disruptions from unpaid workers.
The executives highlighted staffing shortages, with over 300 TSA quits since mid-February, long security lines, flight delays, and cancellations, as reported across outlets including Reuters and the Epoch Times. The letter cited public frustration with air travel treated as a “political football.”
TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable.
The CEOs noted airlines expect a record 171 million passengers this spring, coinciding with spring break, upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations, and America’s 250th birthday celebrations. Wait times at checkpoints have reached 2, 3, or 4 hours, prompting airlines to hold flights and rebook passengers.
On March 15, 2,632 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed, and 1,678 were canceled, per FlightAware data cited by USA Today.
Proposed Solutions
The letter urged immediate DHS funding and passage of bipartisan legislation: the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and Aviation Funding Stability Act for air traffic controllers, and the Keep America Flying Act for TSA officers.
93 percent of your constituents across the country supported paying federal aviation workers during government shutdowns. Furthermore, 88 percent of Americans said long lines and extended wait times at airport security checkpoints are likely to be repeated if TSA officers continue to work without pay during future shutdowns.
Polling was conducted by AlphaROC, Inc., on March 9-10, 2026.
Signatories
Key signers included:
- Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines Group & American Airlines
- Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines
- Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines
- Bob Jordan, President, CEO & Vice Chairman, Southwest Airlines
- Joanna Geraghty, CEO, JetBlue Airways
- Ben Minicucci, CEO & President, Alaska Air Group Inc.
- Others from FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air, and Airlines for America.
Reactions
Airlines for America posted the letter on X, emphasizing bipartisan action. Coverage appeared in Bloomberg, Fox News, and others, confirming impacts on operations ahead of peak travel.