Ten executives of major U.S. airlines are asking Congress to agree on a deal to end the funding stalemate directly affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which pays airport security staff.
The partial government shutdown remains ongoing as Democrats and Republicans in the Senate refuse to compromise on the minority party’s objections to federal immigration funding. Democrats want to place more oversight on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while Republicans believe the DHS appropriations bill should be passed without those limits.
Since the shutdown started last month, Transportation Security Administration employees have not gotten full paychecks for their work. Without the financial incentive, hundreds of TSA officers are calling out of work or quitting. As a result, passengers at many airports have had to wait at security checkpoints for several hours.
In an open letter on Sunday, the airlines told lawmakers, without specifying which party, to stop treating air travel like a “political football” during the latest government shutdown.
“TSA officers just received $0 paychecks,” they wrote. “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 airline executives explained that a deal needs to be solved soon, as travel for spring break continues and a high volume of flights is expected this summer for the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday.
“The stakes are especially high. U.S. airlines expect 171 million passengers this spring season, a new record,” the letter reads.
“But too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long—and painfully slow—lines at checkpoints,” it reads. “Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported. Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others.”
The groups also proposed three bipartisan legislative solutions that would keep paying federal aviation workers, including TSA officers and air traffic controllers, during federal government shutdowns. Air traffic controllers were especially strained during the 43-day funding lapse last fall.
The letter was signed by Robert Isom of American Airlines, Ed Bastian of Delta Air Lines, Scott Kirby of United Airlines, and Chris Sununu of Airlines for America, among six others.
AIRPORT SECURITY STRAINS AND TSA LINES GROW AS CONGRESS SHOWS LITTLE URGENCY TO END DHS SHUTDOWN
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy thanked the letter’s signatories for urging Congress to act quickly on a funding deal while blaming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for the shutdown.
“Kudos to the CEOs from our airlines and shipping companies for standing up for @TSA workers as they go into another week without getting paid,” Duffy posted on X.
