With spring break travel approaching, aviation and travel leaders pressed Congress to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown before federal airport workers miss a full paycheck. They warned that continued funding gaps threaten service levels and could disrupt a sector they say supports roughly $3 trillion in economic activity.
U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said TSA staff are still reporting for duty but are not being paid, a situation he called unacceptable and risky for an industry that depends on reliable security operations. DHS has been without full funding for nearly three weeks after lawmakers failed to agree on a budget and immigration policy changes.
About 64,000 TSA employees are classified as essential and must continue working despite the lapse in appropriations. Industry leaders pointed to previous shutdowns, when mounting financial strain led more officers to stay home, and warned of similar “sick outs” and attrition this time. Airport executives said TSA will prioritize safety but that preserving standards could come with longer lines and slower processing as staff shortages emerge.
Leaders also criticized the suspension of Global Entry, the Customs and Border Protection program that expedites re-entry for preapproved low-risk travelers. Although DHS briefly announced a pause to TSA PreCheck before reversing that decision, travel groups said neither program should have been interrupted and urged the White House to reinstate Global Entry immediately.
The industry has launched a Pay Federal Aviation Workers campaign, calling on Congress to both fund DHS now and pass legislation ensuring essential federal aviation employees receive pay during any future shutdowns.
The press conference took place just before President Trump announced plans to replace DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, saying he intends for Senator Markwayne Mullin to take over at the end of March.