Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Shutdown & Pay TSA Workers

CEOs of American, Delta, United and others urged Congress to end the DHS shutdown after 50,000 TSA workers missed their first full paycheck.

The CEOs of America's largest airlines are demanding Congress restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security, warning that unpaid TSA workers and mounting security lines are crippling spring break travel. In an open letter published Sunday, the executives called air travel "the political football amid another government shutdown" and said Americans are "tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown.”

The letter was signed by the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air Group, as well as cargo carriers FedEx, UPS and Atlas Air. They pointed to a stark reality: more than 50,000 TSA workers just received zero-dollar paychecks on Friday, marking their first full missed paycheck since the partial shutdown began February 14.

"TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable," the executives wrote. "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 consequences are already visible. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, wait times exceeded 100 minutes over the weekend. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Houston's Hobby Airport have all reported significant delays. The TSA said more than 300 officers have quit since the shutdown began, and call-out rates have more than doubled.

Denver International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma and Las Vegas' Harry Reid Airport are now asking travelers to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to support TSA employees working without pay.

The shutdown stems from a standoff over immigration enforcement. Democrats are refusing to fund DHS without new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal agents in January. Republicans have rejected the demands.

The CEOs urged Congress to pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act and the Keep America Flying Act, which would guarantee air traffic controllers and TSA officers are paid during future shutdowns. They noted the stakes are enormous: U.S. airlines expect 171 million passengers this spring, with the FIFA World Cup and America's 250th birthday celebrations approaching.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday urging TSA agents to "go to work," adding: "I promise that I will never forget you." With spring break travelers stranded in miles-long security lines and TSA workers facing empty paychecks, The Silicon Review explores the human cost of political stalemate and what it means for an aviation industry stretched to its breaking point.