A4A Statement on Extraordinarily Long TSA Lines at Some U.S. Airports

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2026 - The following statement is attributable to A4A President and CEO Chris Sununu:

"As TSA officers are facing a $0 paycheck this week, we are seeing firsthand the significant strains that the current DHS shutdown is causing across the aviation system. TSA lines are two and three hours long at some airports, causing flights to be delayed and passengers to miss flights.

"The shutdown is having very real consequences, and hardworking federal aviation workers, the airline industry and our passengers are being used as a political football once again. This is simply unacceptable and un-American.

"We are in spring break travel season and expecting record numbers of people to take to the skies. Airlines have done their part to prepare; now Congress and the administration must act with urgency to reach a deal that reopens DHS and ends this shutdown. America's transportation security workforce is too important to be used as political leverage."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

A4A joined U.S. Travel and AAAE last week in a "Pay Federal Aviation Workers" press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The recorded press conference is available here.

More details about the "Pay Federal Aviation Workers" campaign is available here.

More data about spring air travel is available here.

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