DHS funding urged as airline CEOs press Congress to pay aviation workers during shutdown

Chief executives from leading US airlines and cargo carriers urged Congress to restore Department of Homeland Security funding and back bipartisan measures to ensure pay for aviation workers. Their letter supports bills to guarantee wages for air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers during a partial government shutdown affecting airport security operations.

Chief executives from major US airlines and air cargo firms urged Congress to restart funding for the Department of Homeland Security during the partial shutdown. The group asked lawmakers to agree on a bipartisan plan. The aim is to ensure federal aviation staff, including airport security officers, keep receiving pay during funding lapses.

The open letter appeared online on Sunday and in The Washington Post. Signatories included the CEOs of American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue. Cargo leaders from UPS, FedEx and Atlas Air also signed. The executives warned that the shutdown again placed air travel at the centre of a political fight.

Department of Homeland Security funding and TSA pay during shutdown

The letter said Congress should pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act. These measures would ensure air traffic controllers are paid whatever the funding status. The executives also backed the Keep America Flying Act. That proposal would provide similar protections for Transportation Security Administration officers.

"Its difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,\" the letter said. The CEOs linked the pay issue to daily costs. The executives said stable pay helped protect essential travel and security services.

Department of Homeland Security funding dispute and Congress positions

The partial shutdown affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes TSA. Democrats in Congress refused to fund the department over objections to its immigration enforcement tactics. The stoppage is the third shutdown in under a year. TSA workers again went without pay, and later waited for back pay.

Democratic lawmakers said DHS would not be funded until limits were added to federal immigration operations. Lawmakers cited the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year. The letter did not propose immigration changes. It focused on restoring funding and protecting worker pay.

Department of Homeland Security shutdown impact on airport security lines

As the shutdown continued, long security queues appeared at more US airports. The CEOs said timing raised risks due to heavy travel demand. The letter noted spring break was underway. It also pointed to FIFA's World Cup 2026 and events for America's 250th birthday.

The letter said US airlines expected 171 million passengers this spring season. The TSA and Homeland Security repeatedly blamed Democrats for the long lines. Homeland Security said on X last week that over 300 TSA agents quit since the shutdown began. The CEOs urged action as disruptions increased.

The airline and cargo executives asked Congress to restore Department of Homeland Security funding and approve measures to protect aviation worker pay. They argued that stable wages supported security and travel during busy periods. With long queues reported and staff departures disclosed, the letter pressed lawmakers to end the stalemate quickly.

With inputs from PTI