Major U.S. airline CEOs, including JetBlue Airways leadership, issued an open letter to Congress on March 15, 2026. The group urged lawmakers to end the 29-day partial government shutdown immediately.
Approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are currently working without pay. Rising personnel absences are causing significant disruptions and extraordinarily long security lines at major airports.
Airline leaders warned that the situation could worsen during the current spring break travel season. The CEOs called on lawmakers to fund the Department of Homeland Security and protect aviation personnel from future shutdowns.