US Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Shutdown, Pay Airport Security Officers

Airline executives warn of further disruptions to air travel if government shutdown continues

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:00am

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The CEOs of major U.S. airlines, including American, United, Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska Air, have written an open letter to Congress urging them to quickly reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security and ensure that critical government aviation personnel are paid during future government shutdowns. The airline executives warn that the ongoing 29-day partial government shutdown has already led to widespread disruptions at airports, with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay and absences causing long security lines at major airports.

Why it matters

The airline industry is a critical component of the U.S. economy, and disruptions to air travel can have far-reaching impacts. The CEOs are concerned that the ongoing government shutdown, which has forced TSA officers to work without pay, could further disrupt air travel during the busy spring break season, when a record number of passengers are expected to fly.

The details

The airline CEOs are calling on Congress to immediately fund the Department of Homeland Security and pass legislation to ensure that critical government aviation personnel, such as TSA officers, are paid during future government shutdowns. They warn that the shutdown is turning air travel into a "political football" and that the situation could worsen if a resolution is not reached quickly.

  • The partial government shutdown has been ongoing for 29 days as of March 15, 2026.
  • Last fall, a 43-day government shutdown led to widespread flight disruptions and the FAA ordered a 10% flight cut at major airports.

The players

American Airlines

A major U.S. airline that signed the open letter to Congress.

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that signed the open letter to Congress.

Delta Air Lines

A major U.S. airline that signed the open letter to Congress.

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline that signed the open letter to Congress.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for airport security, which has had over 300 officers quit since the shutdown began.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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