March 15, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — CEOs from major U.S. airlines including American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska Air sent an open letter to Congress demanding an immediate end to the 29-day partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which has left about 50,000 TSA officers working without pay and caused severe staffing shortages at airport security checkpoints nationwide.
The letter, issued via Airlines for America, highlights over 300 TSA officers quitting since the shutdown began on February 13, leading to security lines exceeding two to four hours at major airports such as Houston Hobby, Chicago, Los Angeles and others, particularly as spring break travel surges with a projected record 171 million passengers.
Key Demands in the Letter
The executives called for Congress to fund DHS immediately and pass legislation like the Keep America Flying Act to ensure TSA officers, air traffic controllers and customs officers are paid during future shutdowns.
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.
The letter cited polling showing 93% of Americans support paying federal aviation workers during shutdowns and 88% expect repeated long lines without protections.
Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long—and painfully slow—lines at checkpoints. Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported.
Impacts on Travelers and Safety
Travelers have reported missing flights after waits of more than three hours, with some airports closing checkpoints or fundraising for TSA workers. Airlines warned of risks to aviation safety and passenger frustration amid the chaos, echoing reports of disruptions at hubs like Newark and New Orleans.
Reuters noted bipartisan Senate efforts failed Thursday to fund TSA, tying the standoff to immigration reform disputes.
Signatories and Broader Support
The letter was signed by:
- Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines
- Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines
- Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines
- Bob Jordan, President & CEO, Southwest Airlines
- Joanna Geraghty, CEO, JetBlue Airways
- Ben Minicucci, CEO & President, Alaska Air Group
- And executives from FedEx, UPS and Atlas Air.
Fox News described the CEOs “torching” lawmakers for politicizing air travel. Real-time X discussions highlighted missed paychecks and quits.
The plea aligns with ongoing US Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Partial Government Shutdown and Pay TSA Officers Amid Airport Delays, emphasizing urgency ahead of major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026.
