House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) have raised concerns about the impact of the ongoing government shutdown on aviation security personnel. In letters sent to several transportation stakeholder organizations, including Airlines for America, the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, Allied Pilots Association, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the Chairmen requested information about operational and workforce disruptions affecting their members during the lapse in appropriations.
TSA and FAA personnel are responsible for managing over 45,000 daily flights and screening nearly three million passengers each day. Since Sunday, airports such as Newark Liberty International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport have experienced ground delays attributed to staffing shortages.
In their letter, Garbarino and Gimenez stated: “We are writing to express serious concern about the ongoing government shutdown, now nearing one month, and its escalating effects on the Nation’s aviation system and the professionals responsible for maintaining its safety and security. The current crisis is the direct result of Senate Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the government. Their inaction is forcing tens of thousands of essential federal employees to work without pay, weakening coordination across the National Airspace System (NAS), and placing unacceptable strain on the front-line workforce that is responsible for safeguarding the traveling public.”
They further noted: “The operational and human toll of this Democrat shutdown is already evident. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel, including transportation security officers (TSOs) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers, are performing critical national security and public safety functions while facing significant pay disruptions… The NAS, which is one of the most intricate and interdependent operational systems in the world, relies on continuous synchronization among air traffic controllers, TSOs, pilots, maintenance crews, and safety and security regulators. When any link in this chain is disrupted, the impact reverberates nationwide. For example, on October 26, the FAA was forced to issue a temporary ground stop for flights to Los Angeles International Airport due to staffing shortages at a Southern California control facility. Related delays and cancellations spread across Newark Liberty International, Teterboro, and Southwest Florida International Airports further exposing the systemic fragility created by the ongoing Democrat shutdown.”
The letter concluded: “TSA operations are facing similar pressures. At major airports throughout the United States TSOs continue processing record passenger volumes despite missing or soon missing their first full paycheck. Moreover absenteeism will almost certainly increase as financial pressures mount consistent with patterns seen in past shutdowns as personnel are forced to pursue other employment opportunities to continue supporting themselves and their families. TSOs constitute an important layer of homeland security,and their ability to sustain concentrationand morale under financial duress directly affects aviation security Each additional day without pay increases theriskof diminished performance staffing shortfalls or attrition that could erode layeredsecurity architecture built up since terrorist attacks September 11 2001… If shutdown persists United States could face full-scale aviation crisis during peak holiday travel season that would affect tens millions Americans inflict lasting damage industry essential national commerce mobility.”
During lapses in appropriations such as this one nearly all Department of Homeland Security personnel must continue working without pay; more than 61 000 exempt TSA employees include many Transportation Security Officers who make up a majority within TSA ranks According recent data from Reuters some affected workers like those at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport have hadto take out personal loans cover basic expenses
The Department of Transportation has classified approximately 30 000 FAA staff—including over13 000 air traffic controllers—as exempt meaning they also work unpaid During recent days U S airports saw around8 000 delayed flights with over50 reported staffing shortages since last Friday
