Airline CEOs Demand End to Shutdown After TSA Paychecks Halted
Ten US airline CEOs including JetBlue’s urged Congress to end the DHS funding lapse that left TSA officers without paychecks for the first time since Feb. 14, warning of travel delays and flight cancellations during spring-break and a record 171 million passenger surge this year. They also proposed three legislative measures to guarantee pay for TSA officers and air traffic controllers regardless of future shutdowns.
1. CEOs Urge End to DHS Funding Lapse
The chief executives of ten major US airlines, including JetBlue, jointly sent a letter to Congress demanding an immediate end to the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse. They highlighted that Transportation Security Administration officers missed their first paychecks since the Feb. 14 shutdown, stressing that unpaid workers are causing long airport lines, travel delays and flight cancellations.
2. Travel Surge and Legislative Proposals
With spring-break season under way and expectations of a record 171 million passengers during this year’s FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday, the CEOs warned that unpaid TSA officers threaten airport operations. They urged Congress to pass three measures guaranteeing pay for TSA officers and air traffic controllers regardless of future funding disputes.