Airline executives pen letter urging Congress to act as TSA workers go unpaid during shutdown

WASHINGTON — Ten airline executives wrote a letter to Congress, urging them to resolve the ongoing partial government shutdown that would restore pay for federal aviation workers. 

The partial government shutdown began in February, but many employees have continued to show up for work without the promise of regular pay for the third time within six months. 

“Americans—who live in your districts and home states—are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown,” the executives wrote. “Yet, once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown.” 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, funding and resources were cut for nearly all Transportation Security Administration workers, as well as air traffic controllers and U.S. customs clearance officers, increasing the risk of short- and long-term absenteeism, longer lines and flight delays. 

On Friday, the vast majority of TSA workers received zero-dollar paychecks. Two weeks before, during the previous pay cycle, the same employees received only partial pay. 

“That is simply unacceptable,” the airline executives wrote in their letter. “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.”

This latest disruption to pay comes on the heels of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, when workers went a full 43 days without pay in the fall. 

DHS officials said Friday that more than 300 TSA agents had recently quit. Those numbers were expected to rise sharply as the shutdown and lack of pay continued. 

Roughly 1,100 TSA officers left the agency between October and November of last year, according to a TSA report.

“Many TSOs that left attributed their separation due to the uncertainty, stress, missed paychecks, and financial hardships of the government shutdown,” the report continued. 

Federal workers are guaranteed to receive back pay once the shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law.

In an effort to put pressure on Congress to restore services and lift the shutdown, 10 CEOs of aviation companies wrote an open letter dated Sunday, March 15, highlighting the strain on workers and the ripple effects it has on travel, especially during the busy spring break season. 

“This problem is solvable, and there are solutions on the table. Now it’s up to you, Congress, to move forward on bipartisan proposals that will get federal aviation workers—including TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers at airports and air traffic controllers—paid during shutdowns,” the letter continued.

The letter was signed by executives from the following companies: Alaska Air, American Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Delta, FedEx, Jetblue, UPS, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, as well as the president and CEO for Airlines of America. 

Click here to read the full letter.