CouragePublic Statements

Travel industry lobbies Congress to end DHS shutdown as airport security degrades

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Airlines, hotels, and travel agencies lobbied Congress to end the DHS shutdown, warning that TSA employees will start missing full paychecks in mid-March. Industry groups reported visible degradation at airport security checkpoints: longer lines, fewer screeners, and rising traveler complaints.

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Why this is Courage

This minor act of pushback is notable from an industry group. While not referencing ICE and Border Patrol as the reasons immigration enforcement is held up, it does criticize the administration's attempt to make the shutdown painful through restrictions on TSA.

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