In a recent open letter to Congress, Delta CEO Ed Bastian joined nine other aviation CEOs—representing the largest U.S. passenger and cargo carriers—who stressed the important of paying federal aviation workers during government shutdowns.
On Friday, March 13, TSA officers received a $0 paycheck after a lapse in funding that began on February 14.
“That is simply unacceptable,” the CEOs wrote. “It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.”
On Tuesday morning, Bastian shared his thoughts on the partial government shutdown on CNBC’s Squawk Box. Bastian urged Congress to pursue a speedy resolution of the current lapse in U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, front-line workers central to what we do, are not being paid. It’s ridiculous to see them used as political chips. We’re outraged. Over 90 percent of the American public supports these people getting paid. Ask our folks in Washington to do their job and get our people paid. They can do it,” Bastian said.
As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues, Delta says it remains focused on delivering a safe, reliable travel experience while supporting its partners in the transportation sector. TSA wait times at U.S. airports may be longer than usual, and expedited security lines may not be available. Customers are advised to check their local airport website for wait times and plan additional time for security screening.
Delta continues to engage with policymakers to encourage an end to this shutdown and to promote legislation to ensure the federal workers on the frontlines of the nation’s aviation system are always paid for their work, even in the event of a government shutdown. To add your voice in support of this effort, you can use the following link: https://www.airlines.org/pay-our-federal-aviation-workers/
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