I have been working at TSA for the last four years. Americans expect one simple thing when they head to the airport: safety, order, and a system that works. Right now, that’s not what they’re getting.

The ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown is creating growing chaos at airports across the country. Longer lines, staffing shortages, and mounting uncertainty are making travel more stressful for families, business travelers, and anyone trying to get where they need to go safely.

At the same time, thousands of TSA agents - the men and women who work hard every day to protect our homeland and our skies - are being forced to work without pay. That’s not just unfair, it’s unsustainable. 

Each day, TSA (Transportation Security Administration) officers screen roughly 3 million travelers at U.S. airports. They seize prohibited weapons, operate the checkpoints that keep commercial flights safe over American skies, and show up, day after day.

Recent shutdowns have repeatedly forced TSA officers to work without pay, leaving TSA families struggling with mortgages, rent, and tuition. The 2025 shutdown spanned 43 days - the longest in U.S. history - and roughly 1,100 officers left the agency afterward. TSA still hasn’t recovered from that loss. 

Now another shutdown is underway: it began on February 14, 2026 and TSA officers are again working without pay. More than 400 officers have quit since it started.

When the people responsible for our security are stretched thin and worried about making ends meet, it puts everyone at risk.

This isn’t how government should work.

Regardless of political differences, there should be agreement on this: keeping Americans safe and treating frontline workers with respect must come first.

Enough is enough. Congress needs to act now. We call on lawmakers to pass a clean, immediate reopening of DHS - without delays, political games, or unrelated conditions.

We also call on Congress to ensure TSA agents receive full back pay for the work they’ve already done by passing a "Federal Government Employee Late Pay Interest Act”, which would mandate that for every day Congress delays in reopening during a government shutdown, 5% interest must be added to the delayed paychecks of Federal Government employees. 

This act would serve as a crucial step toward ensuring fair treatment and financial protection for those who are committed to maintaining national security. 

Air travel is a critical part of our economy and daily life. It should not be caught in the middle of Washington gridlock. It’s time to restore order, support the people who keep us safe, and get the system back on track.