politics
March 16, 2026
Major airline CEOs come together to plead for deal on DHS funding
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.
TL;DR
- Ten major U.S. airline executives are calling on Congress to resolve the Department of Homeland Security funding stalemate.
- The ongoing government shutdown has resulted in TSA employees working without paychecks.
- Hundreds of TSA officers are calling out or quitting due to lack of payment, causing significant delays at airports.
- Airlines are concerned about passenger wait times, which have reached 2-4 hours, impacting travel during peak seasons.
- The executives implored lawmakers to stop treating air travel as a "political football" and proposed bipartisan solutions to fund federal aviation workers during shutdowns.
- The letter highlights the importance of TSA and air traffic controller funding, referencing past disruptions.
- Record numbers of travelers are expected for spring break, with further increases anticipated for the FIFA World Cup and America's 250th birthday.
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