The initiative was announced jointly by the U.S. Travel Association, Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The campaign aims to mobilise Americans to urge Congress to pass legislation ensuring that essential federal aviation employees continue receiving pay during government shutdowns.
The organisations stated that funding disruptions should not compromise the safety and reliability of the U.S. air travel system and called on Congress to immediately reopen the government and ensure that transportation security officers, including staff from the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, are paid.
The travel industry groups are also urging lawmakers to pass legislation designed to prevent these workers from being affected by future funding disputes.
The associations specifically called on Congress to approve the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would ensure that air traffic controllers are paid regardless of the government’s funding status. They also called for the adoption of the Keep America Flying Act, which would extend similar protections to Transportation Security Administration officers.
Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said: “TSA officers screen nearly a billion passengers a year. With an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Right now, Congress is allowing them to do that work without one. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers. So does the economy. That is why America’s travel industry has come together, because this workforce is too important, and the stakes are too high, for this to keep happening.”
Christopher T. Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America, said: “At this time of record air travel, airlines have done their part to add flights and seats to their schedules to accommodate the record demand—it’s past time for the government to do its part and ensure that TSA and CBP employees are paid for the job they do day in and day out. Congress must get to the table and act with urgency to get a deal done that ensures frontline agencies can fully operate and employees can get the paychecks they earn for the important work they do to keep our skies secure.”
Todd Hauptli, President and CEO of the American Association of Airport Executives, said: “For the third time in five months, TSA screeners are being asked to perform their jobs without pay because Washington can’t find a way to do its job. That’s wrong, and dedicated screeners shouldn’t have to pay the price for continued Washington dysfunction. These are people who work hard, and who are being forced in some cases to find second jobs or rely on donations to buy gas or groceries or meet basic needs. AAAE calls on Congress to enact legislation to ensure that federal employees—whether it’s transportation security officers, FAA air traffic controllers, or other critical workers who keep our nation’s aviation system safe, secure, and efficient—are paid during any future shutdown so that they will never again miss a paycheck due to politics.”
The announcement comes as the spring travel season begins. U.S. airlines expect 171 million passengers during the period, representing an average of 2.8 million travellers per day in March and April and a four percent increase compared with the previous year.
The U.S. travel industry supports more than 15 million jobs and contributes over $2.9 trillion annually to the national economy.
Industry representatives also pointed to the impact of the previous 43-day shutdown last autumn, during which more than 9,000 flights were delayed or cancelled, affecting six million travellers and resulting in $6.1 billion in losses across the travel sector and related industries.
The organisations said the campaign aims to highlight the role aviation security personnel play in maintaining passenger safety and supporting the broader travel economy while urging Congress to end the shutdown and pass legislation guaranteeing that air traffic controllers and TSA officers receive pay regardless of future funding interruptions.
Tags: Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association, Christopher T. Sununu, Airlines for America, Todd Hauptli, American Association of Airport Executives
