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Stop using American flyers as a political football. It’s time to keep TSA lines moving.

March 11, 2026

Spring breakers traveling by air this year should consider packing one additional thing before heading to the airport—a lot of extra time. Security lines are stretching out the door and around the corner because Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are missing paychecks amid the partial government shutdown.

Congress needs to get its act together. Whether flying to San Diego to spend time in the sun or to Omaha for a business meeting, American passengers should not be used as a political football.

The ongoing airport security bottlenecks are evoking a sense of deja vu for many Americans. The disruptions come just four months after the end of the 43-day government shutdown that threw America’s aviation system into chaos—disrupting thousands of flights and millions of passengers. It’s estimated that more than $7 billion in economic activity—or roughly $150 million per day—was lost during last fall’s record-breaking budget standoff.

While air traffic controllers are not directly involved in the latest funding spat, the previous shutdown reveals how travel disruptions can quickly snowball. Not only does air travel uncertainty have direct consequences for the flying economy, but downstream effects impact tourism, tax revenues, and airport vendors’ livelihoods.

The most straightforward solution to the current crisis is for Congress to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). But given political realities, resolving differences over immigration enforcement could be a prickly, and lengthy, process. As a stopgap, lawmakers can agree to independently finance TSA agent payrolls—separating appropriations for what already has bipartisan support, and what remains controversial.

Legislation has already been introduced that would do just that. The Keep America Flying Act would ensure that money continues to flow to TSA officers and other operational personnel that keep airports running smoothly. Americans shouldn’t routinely face security lines that last longer than their flights—particularly when the congressional dispute responsible for the disruption is unrelated to the country’s aviation system.

Alternative proposals exclusively focus on air traffic controllers. While controllers may not be caught in the latest political game of chicken, proactively protecting these federal employees from paycheck lapses would prevent additional airport chaos during future funding impasses.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act would allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to tap into an alternative funding source called the Airway and Airport Trust Fund to buoy aviation operations during government shutdowns. The trust fund is supported by aviation-related user fees—not general taxpayer dollars—making it a commonsense backstop during funding lapses.

Similarly, a proposal led by House Transportation Chair Sam Graves, R-Missouri, would allow the FAA to access a wartime emergency fund during budget standoffs to keep critical aviation operations running smoothly. While the funding mechanisms differ, the goal is the same—keep planes flying, workers paid, and the aviation system functioning when lawmakers dig their heels into the ground.

Some travel headaches are inevitable given weather and the complexities of flying. But self-inflicted turbulence from Washington should not get a pass. Congress should resolve the current funding dispute quickly so competing immigration enforcement plans don’t continue to ground American travel plans.

Jackson Shedelbower is the executive director of the Center for Transportation Policy.

Orange County Register

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Stop using American flyers as a political football. It’s time to keep TSA lines moving.

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