Secure America's Skies | The Need for Guaranteed Aviation Funding Take Action $2.9TEconomic Output 15MJobs supported 77M +International visitors 186Visa Waiver Countries 48Host cities U.S. Travel Spending (Inflation Adjusted 2025 Dollars, in Billions) Aviation Security Crisis Secure America's Skies: The Need for Guaranteed TSA & ATC Funding The People Who Keep U.S. Aviation Safe Can't Afford to Work for Free. Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screen nearly a billion passengers a year. Air traffic controllers (ATCs) manage more than 40,000 flights per day in the U.S. Yet, both workforces are forced to work without pay and used as bargaining chips whenever political battles prevent government operations from being funded on time – a dynamic that has become more and more common in recent years. Protect Aviation Workers Demand that Congress pass permanent safeguards ensuring safety personnel are paid during government disruptions. Full Name Email Address Email Your Representative What Do Funding Lapses Really Cost? A timeline of preventable infrastructure disruptions and their macroeconomic consequences. Historical Record Fall 2025: 43-Day Government Shutdown $6.1B U.S. Travel Industry Losses 6M+ Travelers Impacted 10k+ Flights Delayed/Cancelled 10% Capacity Cut Across 40 Airports Equivalent to 88,000 fewer trips per day Recent Impact Spring 2026: 76-Day DHS Shutdown The prolonged operational gap shattered workforce stability: 1,100+ TSA officers resigned. Because replacements require 4 to 6 months of specialized training, staffing shortages instantly paralyzed runway tracking and ground gates. Resulting Airport Wait Times Houston Airport: 4-Hour Lines New Orleans: 3-Hour Lines BWI Airport: 3-Hour Lines Real People, Critical Jobs,No Room for Missed Paychecks TSOs are essential to the safety, security, and reliability of our nation’s travel system. Day after day, they protect millions of travelers and support the flow of commerce that powers the U.S. economy. At an average annual salary of $35,000, when the government shuts down and these officers must work without getting paid, they are forced to get a second job or rely on community donations to cover basic needs—or they leave the security checkpoint entirely. The Downstream Impact Cascades 1 Funding Lapses Occur Budget delays create immediate household stress for security personnel. 2 Workforce Attrition Spiral Unstable environment drives rapid, immediate officer departures. 3 Reduced Staffing & Delays Multi-hour lines force missed connections and delayed cargo flights. 4 Downstream Economic Damage Airlines, hotels, and local commerce operators suffer millions in cancellations. Travel is America's Economic Engine The U.S. travel industry represents $1.3 trillion and 15 million jobs. None of it functions cleanly if airport checkpoints are heavily understaffed. U.S. Travel Spending Trend (Inflation Adjusted 2025 Dollars, represented in Billions) U.S. Travel Spending Dataset Analysis Matrix Year Tracking Point Spending Level (in Billions) 2019 $1,412 2020 $885 2021 $1,118 2022 $1,248 2023 $1,308 2024 $1,341 2025 $1,360 2026 Estimated $1,374 2027 Estimated $1,420 2028 Estimated $1,458 2029 Estimated $1,496 2030 Estimated $1,534 $1,412 2019 $885 2020 $1,118 2021 $1,248 2022 $1,308 2023 $1,341 2024 $1,360 2025 $1,374 2026E $1,420 2027E $1,458 2028E $1,496 2029E $1,534 2030E Source: Tourism Economics, U.S. Travel Association • Hundreds of regional commerce bodies across all 50 states count on Congress to act before the next operational lapse. Congress Has the Keys to a Permanent Solution DHS funding variants fall under standard discretionary buckets, leaving frontline safety personnel uniquely exposed to budget stalemates. The pattern must change. Three Targeted Legislative Fixes: S. 3031 / H.R. 5851 Keep America Flying Act Guarantees TSA officers and air traffic controllers continue to receive pay uninterrupted during future lapses, regardless of shutdown conditions. Support This Bill S. 1045 Aviation Funding Stability Act Ensures technical specialists and controllers are protected from pay disruptions, maintaining long-term training patterns and navigation upgrades. Support This Bill H.R. 6086 Aviation Funding Solvency Act Companion House legislation reinforcing continuous pay security across active operational federal transport nodes during delays. Support This Bill
