The CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and adopt a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers, including airport security officers, during a partial government shutdown.
New York — The CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, are imploring Congress to return funding to the Department of Homeland Security and adopt a bipartisan solution. Wages of federal aviation workers Including airport security officers during the partial government shutdown.
“Once again, air travel has become the political football amid yet another government shutdown,” the executives wrote in a letter. Open letter To Congress, which was published Sunday online and in the Washington Post.
The letter, which was also signed by the CEOs of shippers UPS, FedEx and Atlas Air, said Congress should pass the Aviation Finance Solvency Act and the Aviation Finance Stabilization Act, which would ensure that air traffic controllers are paid regardless of government funding status, as well as the Keep America Flying Act. This measure would provide the same protection to TSA officers charged with providing security and screening all travelers.
“It is difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, gas up the car, and pay rent when you don’t get paid,” the letter read.
The current partial shutdown affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Security Administration. Democrats in Congress refused to fund the department because of objections to immigration enforcement methods. The break marks the third shutdown in less than a year to leave TSA workers temporarily without pay — and once the government reopens, they will have to wait for back wages to be paid.
Democratic lawmakers said the Department of Homeland Security will not receive funding until new restrictions are imposed on federal immigration operations in the wake of the deadly shooting. Alex Pretty and Rene is good In Minneapolis earlier this year.
The CEOs noted that with spring break approaching, the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming and America’s 250th birthday celebrations throughout the year, the risks are high. The letter said that American airlines expect 171 million passengers to arrive this spring season.
As newer Partial closure Over time, there were long security lines at an increasing number of American airports.
TSA and Homeland Security have long blamed Democrats for long security lines.
The Department of Homeland Security posted on its X account last week that more than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the beginning of the shutdown.