Airline CEOs urge Congress to pay TSA workers as airport lines stretch outside terminals
March 16, 2026
Chief executives from the largest US airlines are urging Congress to end the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding lapse during a partial government shutdown and pay airport security staff. They warned that absences from unpaid workers are already causing severe disruptions as spring break travel ramps up.
In an open letter sent to lawmakers published on Sunday, the CEOs of major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, along with cargo giants FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air, called the situation “simply unacceptable.”
TSA Workers on $0.00 paychecks are leaving and calling off work
The shutdown has forced roughly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, under the Department of Homeland Security work without pay. Rising rates of absences and resignations are slowing screening operations across the country.
With TSA staff missing paychecks, resignations have risen sharply. More than 300 officers have already left the agency since the shutdown began, in addition to the 1,000 officers who left during the previous government shutdown, according to officials. As ABC reported, TSA worker call-out rates have also increased from an average of 2% during normal operations to up to 6.16% nationwide, with some major hubs experiencing higher rates.
- New York JFK Airport has seen call-out rates of 21%
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson 19%
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental 18%
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 14%
- Pittsburgh International Airport 13%
“There are very few issues upon which 9 out of 10 Americans agree. However, in recent polling, 93% of your constituents across the country supported paying federal aviation workers during government shutdowns,” the airline leaders stated in their letter. “Furthermore, 88% of Americans said long lines and extended wait times at airport security checkpoints are likely to be repeated if TSA officers continue to work without pay during future shutdowns.”
Spring break travel collides with shutdown disruption
US airlines are expecting around 171 million passengers this spring, including spring break travelers. The country will also be celebrating its 250th anniversary throughout the year, in addition to hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The airline CEOs urged lawmakers to fund the Department of Homeland Security and prevent future shutdowns from disrupting aviation workers’ pay by passing legislation to guarantee pay for aviation safety workers during shutdowns, including:
Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Chris Sununu also warned earlier in March that security wait times at some airports had stretched to two or even three hours because officers are working without pay.
“We are in spring break travel season and expecting record numbers of people to take to the skies,” Sununu stated. “Airlines have done their part to prepare; now Congress and the administration must act with urgency to reach a deal that reopens DHS and ends this shutdown. America’s transportation security workforce is too important to be used as political leverage.”
Passengers queue out the door at several airports
Images circulating on social media this weekend show the impact on travellers as TSA security lines spill out of terminal checkpoints.
In New Orleans, passengers queue through terminal corridors as security capacity struggles to keep up with demand.
INSANE: TSA line goes all way into the parking garage at the New Orleans International Airport due to TSA staffing shortages.
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 10, 2026
pic.twitter.com/WdRjtPeujF
In Fort Lauderdale, travellers also shared images of long lines during early-morning departures.
TSA line at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), at 6am Sunday.
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) March 15, 2026
TSA Pre-Check is operating and has no wait. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/pmzGEcWVys
In Austin, one poster described the long lines stretching across concourses as “insane.”
The TSA line at Austin Airport is insane this morning. People are stretched out the door and down the street, and everyone stuck in it is losing their minds.
— TheCommonVoice (@MaxRumbleX) March 13, 2026
Chaos everywhere, no end in sight, and no one moving fast enough to make a dent. pic.twitter.com/bMPKlaDMng
Airline leaders say “it’s past time” for the government to act
Airline executives warned that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the risk of operational disruption.
“It’s past time for the government to make sure that TSA officers, US Customs clearance officers at airports, and air traffic controllers are paid for the job they do,” the airline leaders wrote. “In these times when it’s hard to reach consensus on just about anything, it is significant that the vast majority of Americans want Congress to pay federal aviation workers, keep our National Airspace System secure, and ensure travellers and packages can get to their destinations safely.”
Lack of funding continues to negatively impact air travel in the US, as key safety and security staff are required to work without pay. “This problem is solvable, and there are solutions on the table,” airline leaders argued, pointing to proposed legislation that would ensure these workers would be paid during shutdowns.
Featured Image: Michael Ball / Wikimedia Commons
