Story perspectives

Airline Executives Demand DHS Funding Amid Ongoing Shutdown

3/17/2026

Center

Airlines Urge Funding

Airline executives from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways urge Congress to restore DHS funding amid the shutdown.
The shutdown began February 14 and has left over 50,000 TSA agents unpaid, causing staffing shortages and long lines.
The executives call for bipartisan solutions to ensure federal aviation workers are paid during shutdowns.
The Senate stalls on a funding bill amid an impasse over immigration enforcement.

Right

Democrats Block Funding

Senate Democrats blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security, triggering a government shutdown.
Democrats say funding should be conditioned on immigration enforcement reforms.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin supports funding Customs and Border Protection while pursuing reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Republicans accuse Democrats of using federal workers as leverage.
Security concerns have heightened after recent terror-related incidents.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. government shutdown from October 1 to 17, 2013, lasted 16 days due to a standoff over the Affordable Care Act, resulting in approximately 800,000 federal employees being furloughed. This historical event underscores ongoing political tensions, as the current shutdown has prompted airline executives to urge Congress to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security amid staffing shortages, impacting national security and essential services.

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Airlines Urge Funding

Airline executives from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways urge Congress to restore DHS funding amid the shutdown.
The shutdown began February 14 and has left over 50,000 TSA agents unpaid, causing staffing shortages and long lines.
The executives call for bipartisan solutions to ensure federal aviation workers are paid during shutdowns.
The Senate stalls on a funding bill amid an impasse over immigration enforcement.

1 / 3