Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian tore into Congress for forcing airport security agents to work without pay, calling the situation “inexcusable” and accusing lawmakers of using frontline workers as “political chips” while a partial government shutdown drags into its fifth week.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid, and it’s ridiculous to see them being used as political chips,” Bastian told CNBC on Tuesday.
“We’re outraged.”
The airline boss said Delta is already seeing the impact, with staffing shortages at security checkpoints fueling longer lines and delays at major hubs — including Atlanta, where extended wait times flared over the weekend.
“We certainly are [seeing it],” Bastian said, noting the disruptions tend to hit hardest on weekends.
He said weather worsened the situation but stressed the underlying issue is unpaid workers.
The standoff in Washington has left about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay since mid-February after lawmakers failed to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Last week, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would restore funding to DHS for the fourth time in the past month as more than 5,000 flights were delayed and 500 others were cancelled.
“Speaker Johnson has led the House twice now in passing a bill that fully funds the Department of Homeland Security – including for paychecks for TSA workers,” a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told The Post.
“The House passed this legislation on 1/22/26 before the department shut down, and then again on 3/5/26. Senate Democrats have of course blocked this legislation multiple times now, and an overwhelming majority of House Democrats have refused to vote to fund the department as well.”
“House Democrats and Senate Democrats have joined together – the same group that gave us wide open borders and defunding the police is at it again. They are refusing to reopen TSA and FEMA for the American people unless they can also reopen the borders for illegal aliens. That’s exactly what’s at stake right now.”
The top Democrat in the Senate rebuffed Johnson’s claims.
“Senate Democrats have repeatedly offered to fund all non-ICE parts of DHS, including TSA agents, only for Republicans to block it each time,” a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told The Post.
“TSA agents, FEMA workers, and Coast Guard personnel could be paid tomorrow if Republicans allowed it. All Republicans have to do is agree to basic professional and accountability standards for ICE, the same standards that police departments across the country already follow.”
Despite being deemed essential, those workers have now missed at least one paycheck and will not be compensated until Congress reaches a deal.
The financial strain is already rippling through the workforce.
Call-out rates have more than doubled, and at least 300 TSA officers have reportedly quit since the shutdown began.
Many remaining agents are struggling to cover basic expenses such as rent, car payments and childcare.
The staffing crunch has spilled into airports nationwide.
Some checkpoints have been shut entirely, forcing travelers into fewer lines and triggering wait times lasting two to three hours — and in some cases even longer — at major airports including Atlanta, Houston and New Orleans.
Airlines have been scrambling to manage the disruption, holding flights for delayed passengers and rebooking others when possible.
“There’s been some [impact], we do our best to hold flights where we can. It’s not a massive issue,” Bastian told CNBC, downplaying the operational hit to Delta’s network.
He framed the crisis in terms of basic fairness.
“These people missed paychecks just a few months ago. They’re missing paychecks again. It’s outrageous,” he said.
Bastian’s remarks come as airline chiefs have been escalating pressure on Congress, warning that the situation is both unsustainable and avoidable.
In a March 15 open letter to lawmakers, the CEOs of major US airlines — including Delta, American, United, Southwest and JetBlue — urged immediate action to restore pay for federal aviation workers.
“There are very few issues upon which 9 out of 10 Americans agree,” the executives wrote, citing polling showing 93% of Americans support paying TSA workers during shutdowns.
The letter warned that long security lines and delays will only worsen if agents continue working without pay, noting that Americans are “tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown.
“TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable,” the CEOs wrote, adding that it is “difficult, if not impossible” for workers to afford basic necessities without income.
The executives called on Congress to pass legislation that would guarantee pay for TSA officers, air traffic controllers and customs agents during future shutdowns — and to immediately fund DHS to end the current impasse.
The Post has sought comment from lawmakers.
