Airline CEOs Demand “Immediate” Motion as Democrats’ DHS Shutdown Pushes Air Journey to the Brink – The White Home

As Democrats maintain the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, deprive 100,000+ Americans of their paychecks, and proceed to inflict ache on vacationers, America’s aviation leaders are sounding the alarm.

In a letter to Congress, chief executives of American Airlines, United ​Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air and others warned that the continuing shutdown is placing rising pressure on airport operations and the workforce that retains them working. Airline CEOs are demanding that Congress “immediately come together to reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security.”

In their letter, airline CEOs wrote:

• “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.”
• “TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. 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.”
• “U.S. airlines expect 171 million passengers this spring season, a new record. But too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long—and painfully slow—lines at checkpoints. Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported. Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others.”
• “It’s past time for the government to make sure that TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers at airports and air traffic controllers are paid for the job they do.”

Our aviation system depends closely on TSA officers who’re working across the clock WITHOUT PAY— struggling to place meals on the desk and gasoline of their vehicles— the Democrats MUST reopen DHS NOW.