Delta Suspends Special Flight Services for Congress Amid Shutdown
Delta Airlines halts special flight services for Congress members due to the ongoing DHS shutdown. Lawmakers will now be treated like regular passengers.
Delta Airlines has announced the temporary suspension of its specialized services for members of Congress, a direct consequence of the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the airline stated, "Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta." These services include airport escorts and other premium assistance, and lawmakers will now be treated like any other passengers based on their SkyMiles status.
This decision follows Delta CEO Ed Bastian's recent comments expressing his outrage over the shutdown, which has resulted in TSA officers working without pay. He described the situation as "inexcusable" and criticized the use of essential security personnel as political pawns.
The DHS, which oversees the TSA, has been partially shut down since mid-February, leading to TSA officers working without compensation and resulting in significant staff shortages and extended wait times for travelers.
Other major airlines have not yet confirmed similar changes to their specialty services. A representative from Southwest Airlines indicated that they are actively engaging with federal partners and are calling on Congress to fund the TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) promptly.
In light of recent incidents involving immigration enforcement officers, Congressional Democrats have stated they will not support DHS funding unless specific reforms related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are implemented.
Senate Democrats and the White House have been exchanging proposals for several weeks with little advancement. Democrats have suggested funding the DHS while excluding ICE and CBP to alleviate TSA-related issues during ongoing negotiations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked that discussions on ICE reforms are progressing but emphasized that they should not delay funding for TSA workers. He urged for a resolution that would enable paychecks for TSA personnel immediately, stating, "Let us end those long lines at the airport now. This is the logical, expedient, correct thing to do."
So far, Republicans have resisted proposals that would separate funding for ICE and CBP from the overall DHS budget. Recently, a bill introduced by Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, to prevent preferential screening at airports for Congress members passed in the Senate but has yet to be addressed by the House of Representatives.