News & Commentary

"...With a record-breaking spring travel season just beginning, TSA officers should not be asked to protect travelers without pay. Congress must act quickly to fund them."

The U.S. Travel Association announced today the promotion of Ellen Davis to Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President.

Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said, “TSA officers screen nearly a billion passengers a year. With an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Right now, Congress is allowing them to do that work without one. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers. So does the economy. That is why America's travel industry has come together, because this workforce is too important, and the stakes are too high, for this to keep happening."

"Global Entry is far more than a convenience, it is on the front line of national security. Its more than 13 million members undergo rigorous background checks, interviews and vetting. Suspending it doesn't just slow lines. It increases costs and strips away a layer of security infrastructure that took years to build."

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued a statement following the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry:

“We are glad that DHS has decided to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a crisis of its own making,” said Geoff Freeman, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “We are urging the same for Global Entry. These Trusted Traveler Programs strengthen aviation security and improve screening efficiency. They are primarily funded by user fees, and there is no reason at this time for them to be suspended.”