March 16, 2026 — Washington, D.C. — Executives from major U.S. airlines, including CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air Group, and leaders from FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air, sent an open letter to Congress on March 15 via Airlines for America, urging immediate funding for the Department of Homeland Security to end the partial government shutdown now in its 29th day and to pass legislation ensuring pay for TSA officers, air traffic controllers, and customs officers during future shutdowns.
The letter highlights severe travel disruptions caused by unpaid TSA workers receiving $0 paychecks amid the shutdown that began mid-February. It calls air travel a “political football” and warns of worsening chaos at major U.S. airports.
TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable… Too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long – and painfully slow – lines at checkpoints… Once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown.
The full letter, published in The Washington Post and shared on X by A4A, proposes bipartisan measures like the Keep America Flying Act.
Record-Long Security Lines Grip Airports
Travelers face security lines up to three or four hours at major airports, exacerbated by doubled TSA absences, peak spring break demand, and lingering winter storm effects, leading to missed flights, delays, and cancellations. Airlines advise arriving 4-5 hours early, but missed flights are not refundable under standard policies, per USA Today and NBC News.
A4A noted on March 8 that lines were already two to three hours long, causing widespread passenger frustration.
TSA Staffing Crisis Deepens
Reports indicate over 300 TSA agents have quit since the shutdown started, with absences doubling as workers miss their first full paychecks and take second jobs during high travel volume. CNN and CBS News report the situation is expected to worsen, prompting calls from airline leaders like those at United and Delta to label the paycheck situation “unacceptable.”
Broader Coverage and Context
The plea echoes coverage from AP News, Fox News, The Guardian, Forbes, and The New York Times, all confirming the escalating impact on U.S. air travel.
