Major U.S. airlines urge Congress to end DHS shutdown as airport lines grow and workers miss pay

Airlines warn of compounding disruptions as the DHS funding lapse enters its fifth week

Major U.S. airlines and industry groups are pressing Congress to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), warning that the partial shutdown is worsening airport congestion and raising the risk of broader operational disruptions as spring break travel continues.

In an open letter released March 15, the chief executives of American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue called on lawmakers to reopen DHS and to adopt a bipartisan approach that ensures federal aviation and security workers are paid during shutdowns. The appeal centers on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), whose officers are required to continue working even when funding lapses, and on the cascading effects staffing strain can have on passenger screening throughput at major hubs.

Longer screening lines and workforce strain

As the shutdown has continued, travelers in multiple regions have reported extended waits at security checkpoints. In parallel, the airline industry’s main trade association has said more than 300 TSA employees have left the workforce since the shutdown began, adding to operational pressure during a period airlines have characterized as unusually heavy for leisure demand.

On March 11, senators from both parties publicly criticized the lack of progress after extended floor debate, with competing proposals failing to advance. The shutdown began February 14, leaving several DHS components operating under shutdown procedures while many employees remain on the job without pay until appropriations are restored.

Political standoff: funding DHS versus separating immigration agencies

The impasse is rooted in disagreement over DHS funding terms and oversight. Some Democrats have advocated funding DHS functions such as TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and cybersecurity operations while withholding funding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) absent changes to their operations. Republican leaders have argued for full-year DHS funding, contending that a partial approach leaves core homeland security missions undercut.

In the House, Republicans advanced a DHS appropriations measure on March 5. In the Senate, Democrats have sought alternative paths, including stand-alone or partial funding proposals; a separate effort announced March 17 outlined plans for a discharge petition strategy aimed at funding most DHS sub-agencies while excluding ICE and CBP.

Why airlines say the shutdown matters operationally

Airlines say that even when aircraft and crews are positioned for peak travel, passenger throughput at airports can become a bottleneck when screening lines lengthen. That congestion can trigger missed flights, rebooking surges, and knock-on delays across tightly scheduled networks, particularly at large hubs where late departures can ripple across the day’s operations.

Executives also urged lawmakers to address a recurring problem exposed during past shutdowns: essential federal employees being required to work without pay. Federal law enacted after the 2018–2019 shutdown guarantees back pay for furloughed and unpaid federal workers following a lapse in appropriations, but it does not prevent the immediate disruptions associated with missed paychecks and staffing volatility during the shutdown period itself.

• The shutdown began February 14 and has coincided with peak spring break travel.

• Airline leaders are urging both near-term funding restoration and a longer-term fix to ensure aviation security workers are paid during shutdowns.

• Congress remains divided over whether to fund DHS in full or separate immigration enforcement agencies from other DHS functions.

“Once again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” airline CEOs wrote in their March 15 letter to Congress.

Absent a near-term resolution, the aviation sector is preparing for continued bottlenecks at checkpoints and a risk of wider disruptions if staffing shortfalls deepen.