WASHINGTON — Major U.S. travel and aviation organizations have launched a nationwide campaign urging Congress to ensure that essential federal aviation employees continue receiving pay during government shutdowns, warning that funding disruptions threaten both aviation security and the broader travel economy.

The initiative, called “Pay Federal Aviation Workers,” was launched by the U.S. Travel Association together with Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The groups are urging lawmakers to pass legislation that guarantees salaries for essential aviation personnel even if the federal government shuts down.

The campaign comes as transportation security employees—including officers from the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection—face their first $0 paycheck during the current shutdown.

Legislative proposals aimed at protecting aviation workers

Travel industry leaders are calling on Congress to pass three bills designed to protect aviation personnel from political funding disputes:

• Aviation Funding Solvency Act
• Aviation Funding Stability Act
• Keep America Flying Act

If approved, the legislation would ensure that air traffic controllers and TSA officers continue to receive pay regardless of the federal government’s funding status, safeguarding the operational stability of the U.S. aviation system.

Travel industry warns of risks to aviation security

Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, emphasized the critical role that transportation security officers play in maintaining safe and efficient air travel.

“TSA officers screen nearly a billion passengers a year,” Freeman said in a statement. “With an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price—along with travelers and the economy.”

The industry groups argue that repeated shutdowns create unnecessary uncertainty for frontline aviation personnel and can disrupt operations across the air travel system.

Record spring travel season raises the stakes

The issue comes at a particularly sensitive moment as the United States enters the busy spring travel season. Airlines expect 171 million passengers to travel between March and April, an average of 2.8 million travelers per day, representing a 4% increase compared with last year and a new record for the period.

According to Christopher T. Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America, airlines have expanded schedules and capacity to accommodate the surge in demand, but government agencies must also ensure the aviation system operates without disruption.

Economic consequences of shutdowns

Industry leaders also pointed to the economic impact of previous shutdowns. A 43-day federal government shutdown last year resulted in more than 9,000 delayed or canceled flights, affecting approximately six million travelers and causing $6.1 billion in losses across the travel sector and related industries.

The U.S. travel industry supports more than 15 million jobs and contributes over $2.9 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, underscoring the importance of maintaining a stable and fully functioning aviation system.

Travel organizations say the new campaign aims to highlight the vital role aviation security personnel play in protecting passengers while supporting the continued growth of the U.S. travel economy.