Articles

# Airlines, Pilots Demand Action as Democrat Shutdown Pushes Air Travel to the Edge

The White House
October 24, 2025

As air traffic controllers and TSA agents work without paychecks and widespread flight disruptions threaten to upend holiday travel, Democrats’ shameful refusal to end their destructive government shutdown is plunging the U.S. aviation system into chaos.

Now, the aviation industry is coming together to demand Democrats cease the sick political gamesmanship and end their shutdown before the full-blown crisis grounds the nation’s skies.

The association representing the biggest U.S. airlines — including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines — issued a new statement urging swift resolution through Republicans’ clean, nonpartisan bill.

- Airlines for America: “At this time of record air travel and increased reliance on cargo shipments, stability and predictability for U.S. aviation are more important than ever. Missed paychecks for the federal employees charged with the safe and efficient facilitation of our national airspace unnecessarily increases stress for the thousands of air traffic controllers, TSA officers and CBP employees who work every day to keep aviation safe and secure. Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the world — but to maintain that record a system under stress must slow down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for travelers and shippers. We urge elected leaders to act with an appropriate sense of urgency to solve this problem and immediately reopen the federal government. The quickest and simplest way to ensure those critical employees are paid is by passing a clean CR. Congress recently made a significant downpayment on modernizing the FAA’s antiquated air traffic control system. The DOT has prioritized ‘supercharging’ hiring to get air traffic control facilities fully staffed, and the TSA continues to screen historically high numbers of travelers at checkpoints. Congress should build on these positive developments and ensure that commercial aviation can continue to drive the economy and connect Americans with the world.”

Major unions collectively representing tens of thousands of pilots for U.S. airlines joined the airlines in calling on Democrats to pass the clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution.

- Coalition of Airline Pilots Association: “On behalf of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) and its 30,000 members, we call on Congress to end the government shutdown by passing a clean Continuing Resolution. We as pilots adhere to strict procedures promoting safety as our most important priority. We have seen the stress and tension this year on the National Airspace System due to short-staffed air traffic controllers. This shutdown only compounds the pressures they face as they now report to work without a paycheck. It’s time to recognize their contributions, along with our colleagues at TSA, who ensure we fly in the safest skies every day with the trust of the American flying public. Congress must support these men and women by ending this shutdown immediately.”
- Allied Pilots Association President First Officer Nick Silva: “Congress should reconvene and work in a bipartisan manner to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund and reopen the government. We stand with our brothers and sisters in air traffic control and TSA who continue to show up to work every day without a paycheck. These men and women take their oath seriously to guarantee a safe National Airspace System so we the pilots can ensure the flying public reaches their destinations in a timely manner and without harm. As the shutdown stretches on and airports encounter potential delays, it only intensifies the pressure these aviation professionals confront in the face of not getting paid. It’s time we support these men and women and reopen the federal government.”
- NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots President Capt. Pedro Leroux: “How can we possibly expect our industry peers to be fully focused on their responsibilities – chief of which is keeping the flying public safe and secure – when many are likely wondering how long they are going to go without pay. And, more specifically, how do they continue to care for their families – to put food on the table? Our members rely on ATC, in particular, to provide critical direction and support during all phases of flight. Today is day 23 of the shutdown, and the strain this is placing on all stakeholders – federal employees, flight crews and the traveling public is taking a toll. It is indisputable that our system is less safe today than it was on Oct. 1 when the shutdown began.”
- Southwest Airlines Pilots Association President Capt. Jody Reven: “Considering the strain on our nation’s aviation system, SWAPA strongly urges Congress to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government. Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure — a government shutdown only compounds that stress and threatens the efficiency of our skies as we see the impact of reduced controller availability at facilities across the country. Likewise, TSA professionals continue to show up every day to safeguard the traveling public, even without pay. These men and women deserve our full support and the certainty of a paycheck.”

They join other key industry leaders in calling on Democrats to immediately end the shutdown and return the country to regular order.

- Air Line Pilots Association, International President Capt. Jason Ambrosi: “It is time for our leaders to come to the table in good faith to make a deal that will reopen the government. Airline pilots stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at NATCA and with all the federal workers who are continuing to work without a paycheck during this shutdown. The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough on an easy day, but forcing them to do it without pay undermines the safety and security of our entire system. We are at a critical moment in aviation safety, and we need our leaders to be focused on the necessary infrastructure and staffing improvements.”
- National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels: “NATCA advocates for every excepted employee, every federal employee that’s out there, to be paid no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the shutdown. And we’re ensuring that our message is loud and clear. There’s one way to do it. And that’s by ending this shutdown and putting everybody back to work and having them compensated for the work they do day in and day out, especially air traffic controllers.”

It’s hard to overstate the disastrous effects the Democrat Shutdown is having on the aviation industry. Every week the shutdown drags on, $1 billion in travel-related spending is lost, while the nation’s 13,000 air traffic controllers are preparing to miss their first full paycheck — and Democrats want to use the crisis as “leverage” in their sick political games.

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