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The CEOs of the nation\u2019s top airline companies are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and embrace a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers, including airport security officers, during a partial gov…<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n NEW YORK — <\/span>The CEOs of the nation’s top airline companies, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and embrace a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers<\/a> including airport security officers during the partial government shutdown.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again, air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,\u201d the executives wrote in an open letter<\/a> to Congress that was published Sunday online and in The Washington Post. <\/p>\n The letter, which was also signed by the CEOs of the cargo companies UPS, FedEx and Atlas Air, said that Congress should pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would guarantee air traffic controllers are paid regardless of the government\u2019s funding status, as well as the Keep America Flying Act. That measure would offer the same protections to Transportation Security Administration officers tasked to provide security and to screen all travelers.<\/p>\n \u201dIt\u2019s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,” the letter said.<\/p>\n The current partial shutdown affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes TSA. Democrats in Congress refused to fund the department over objections to its immigration enforcement tactics. The lapse marks the third shutdown in less than a year to leave TSA workers temporarily without pay \u2014 and once the government reopens, to have to wait for back pay.<\/p>\n Democratic lawmakers have said DHS won\u2019t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti<\/a> and Renee Good<\/a> in Minneapolis earlier this year.<\/p>\n The CEOs noted that with spring break in full swing, FIFA’s World Cup 2026 approaching and celebrations for America’s 250th birthday throughout the year, the stakes are high. The letter said that U.S. airlines expect 171 million passengers this spring season.<\/p>\n