US Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Partial Government Shutdown

CEOs say it is 'simply unacceptable' to expect TSA officers to work without pay

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:27pm

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The chief executive officers (CEOs) from multiple major U.S. airlines have urged Congress to quickly end the 29-day partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel and forced 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to work without pay. The CEOs say the shutdown is causing long lines and delays at airports, with some travelers missing flights during the busy spring travel season.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown, which has impacted the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA, is causing major disruptions to air travel across the country. The airline industry is concerned about the impact on passengers and the ability of TSA agents to effectively do their jobs without pay.

The details

In a joint letter to Congress, the CEOs of major airlines including Alaska Air, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United said it is 'simply unacceptable' to expect TSA officers to work without pay. They noted that more than 300 TSA agents have left the agency since the shutdown began in mid-February. The CEOs called on Congress to come together immediately to negotiate a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the partial government shutdown.

  • The partial government shutdown began in mid-February 2026.
  • TSA officers missed their first full paychecks in early March 2026.
  • Spring break travel is already underway, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 and America's 250th birthday celebrations coming up later in the year.

The players

CEOs of Major U.S. Airlines

The chief executive officers of multiple major U.S. airlines, including Alaska Air, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, who signed a joint letter urging Congress to end the partial government shutdown.

TSA Officers

The approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who have been working without pay during the partial government shutdown.

Congress

The legislative branch of the U.S. government, which the airline CEOs are calling on to negotiate a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the partial government shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— CEOs of Major U.S. Airlines (The Epoch Times)

“But too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long—and painfully slow—lines at checkpoints. Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported. Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others.”

— CEOs of Major U.S. Airlines (The Epoch Times)

“Then they need to act so this problem never happens again. Once again air travel is the political football amid another government ​shutdown.”

— CEOs of Major U.S. Airlines (The Epoch Times)

What’s next

The group of CEOs urged Congress to pass legislation ensuring that critical government aviation workers are paid in any future government shutdowns.

The takeaway

This partial government shutdown is causing significant disruptions to air travel, with long lines and delays at airports across the country. The airline industry is calling on Congress to come together and find a solution to end the shutdown and ensure that critical government workers like TSA officers are paid during any future shutdowns.