AHLA Statement on Ending of the DHS Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2026) - Rosanna Maietta, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, issued the following statement concerning the end of the record-long partial government shutdown:

"The reopening of the Department of Homeland Security was long overdue, but it does not erase the unacceptable damage caused by this shutdown. For months, dedicated TSA officers were used as political pawns, forced to work without reliable pay while keeping the nation's travel system running. That is outrageous, and it left the entire travel industry bearing the consequences.

"The disruption caused by the shutdown didn't end at the airport. It led to canceled trips and fewer hotel guests, and cut into the livelihoods of the nearly nine million Americans whose jobs depend on a functioning travel economy.

"Over the past year, the federal government has been unfunded or at risk of shutdown for an extended period, creating instability that undermines consumer confidence and workforce reliability. A functioning government is essential to a strong travel economy. Congress must ensure this is the last time this critical industry is treated as collateral damage in a political standoff."