Airline CEOs said $0 TSA paychecks during the government shutdown are 'simply unacceptable'

"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."

"America's top airline executives blasted Congress over the government shutdown's impact on aviation workers, calling air travel a political football and saying Americans are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown."

"The group said Congress should pass acts such as the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, and the Keep America Flying Act, which would ensure workers are paid during future shutdowns."

Major airline CEOs and courier company executives issued an open letter criticizing Congress for treating air travel as a political issue during government shutdowns. They highlighted the severe impact on federal aviation workers, particularly TSA officers who received zero paychecks, making it impossible to cover basic living expenses. The shutdown caused widespread worker absences, resulting in long airport queues and flight delays. The executives urged Congress to pass legislation including the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, Aviation Funding Stability Act, and Keep America Flying Act to ensure continuous payment for TSA officers, customs clearance officers, and air traffic controllers during future shutdowns. Airports began collecting donations to support unpaid workers.

Read at Business Insider