Airport Alert: AAAE Implores Congress to End the DHS Shutdown and Restore Pay for Critical Federal Employees

March 17, 2026

Today, AAAE President and CEO, Todd Hauptli, and ACI-NA President and CEO, Kevin Burke, sent a letter to House and Senate leadership imploring them to work with the administration to end the funding impasse for the Department of Homeland Security. With Congress scheduled to break for a scheduled two-week recess at the end of next week, it is imperative that an agreement be reached immediately to restore funding for hard-working Americans who are currently performing critical security-related jobs without pay.

The letter highlighted that since the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1, most DHS employees, including those at the Transportation Security Administration, have worked without funding certainty and pay for nearly half the time. As this funding impasse drags on for more than a month, critical federal employees at airports, like frontline Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), are having to decide whether they can afford to continue federal employment or if they need to leave in favor of more stable jobs.

The letter highlighted that since missing a full paycheck on March 13, unexcused absences of TSOs have tripled to a nationwide average above 10 percent, with several airports experiencing call-out rates above 50 percent. This has caused lengthy wait times during an already busy period with peak spring break travel.

The letter also expressed concern that staff shortages will continue at airports and cause delays during high profile events like the FIFA World Cup. With less than 90 days before the first FIFA games begin, TSA will not have sufficient time to backfill experienced TSOs who will continue to leave the agency during this shutdown.

In addition to immediately ending the shutdown, AAAE and ACI-NA requested that Congress enact legislation to provide pay for TSA and other critical federal aviation workers who keep our nation safe and secure during any future shutdown so that they never miss a paycheck again.

Please weigh in with your congressional delegation echoing our request to end this funding impasse. When you do so, it would be very helpful if you shared specific examples of what you are seeing at your airport, such as growing wait times.

Thank you for your continued engagement and advocacy.