Congress Stalls on Bills to Pay Aviation Workers During Shutdowns

Repeated attempts to protect pay for TSA, FAA staff during budget impasses have failed to gain traction

Mar. 28, 2026 at 12:54pm

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Despite repeated bipartisan efforts to introduce legislation that would ensure federal aviation workers like air traffic controllers and TSA agents get paid during government shutdowns, the bills have consistently stalled in Congress. Experts say the political gridlock and public's short memory of the problems caused by shutdowns have prevented these measures from becoming law, leaving workers vulnerable to missing paychecks when budget negotiations break down.

Why it matters

Shutdowns that disrupt air travel have continued, with the longest funding lapse on record last fall leading the FAA to order flight cuts at major airports due to staffing shortages. Aviation workers, already struggling financially from previous shutdowns, have been left in limbo as Congress fails to act on proposals that could provide them stability and prevent further disruptions to air travel.

The details

Since 2019, lawmakers have introduced multiple bills like the Aviation Funding Stability Act and the Keep Air Travel Safe Act that would protect the pay of air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and other essential aviation personnel during government shutdowns. However, the legislation has consistently stalled, with experts citing political polarization and the public's short memory of shutdown impacts as key factors. Unions, airlines, and airports have urged Congress to pass one of the existing bipartisan proposals, but the dysfunction in Washington has left workers facing uncertainty and financial hardship when funding lapses occur.

  • In 2019, the Aviation Funding Stability Act was first introduced.
  • In the fall of 2022, the Aviation Funding Solvency Act was introduced after a government shutdown.
  • In October 2025, the Keep Air Travel Safe Act and Keep America Flying Act were introduced.
  • In January 2026, the Shutdown Fairness Act was introduced.
  • In February 2026, a 42-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security occurred.

The players

Eric Chaffee

A Case Western Reserve law professor whose research includes risk management in the aviation industry.

Carlos Rodriguez

A TSA agent and local union leader in New York.

Johnny Jones

Secretary-treasurer of the TSA division of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Chris Sununu

The president and CEO of Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. airlines.

Caleb Harmon-Marshall

A former TSA officer who runs a travel newsletter called Gate Access.

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What they’re saying

“Once the crisis is over, people assume that the good times are back. It's easy to pass the next big bill when you're still in the throes of the financial crisis, but once the shutdown is done, people have a relatively short memory of the problems that it created.”

— Eric Chaffee, Case Western Reserve law professor

“Part of the American dream that I was sold was that working for the government was honorable and stable. But this is not honorable or stable.”

— Carlos Rodriguez, TSA agent and local union leader in New York

“We're on the chess board.”

— Johnny Jones, Secretary-treasurer of the TSA division of the American Federation of Government Employees

“Congress has the power to end this dysfunction once and for all, and must use any legislative vehicle to accomplish this goal.”

— Modern Skies Coalition

“Right now, lawmakers are sitting on their hands doing nothing with three viable, bipartisan bills that could prevent this mess.”

— Chris Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America

What’s next

The president's emergency order to pay TSA agents immediately only covers a single pay period, which may not be enough to bring back workers who have struggled financially from the shutdown. Congress will need to pass one of the existing bipartisan bills, like the Aviation Funding Solvency Act or Keep America Flying Act, to provide longer-term stability and prevent future disruptions to air travel.

The takeaway

The repeated failure of Congress to pass legislation protecting the pay of essential aviation workers during government shutdowns highlights the political gridlock and short public memory that have allowed this dysfunction to continue. Without a clear path forward, these workers remain vulnerable to losing their paychecks, undermining morale, recruitment, and retention in critical roles for the nation's air travel system.