The nation’s travel industry, from small businesses to America’s largest travel companies, is speaking with one voice: pay TSA officers now. In a joint letter led by U.S. Travel, stakeholders across the sector are urging Congress to act immediately to ensure Transportation Security Officers are paid and protected.
“Members of Congress continue to be paid and move to the front of security lines while TSOs work for free and travelers wait for hours. That is unacceptable,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Congress is leaving TSOs out in the cold for a second time in less than six months, gambling with aviation safety and security while millions of travelers depend on a workforce running on empty. They need to end the DHS shutdown. Now.”
The consequences are already playing out. Hours-long security lines at airports across the country. A workforce under growing strain. U.S. Travel has launched a live tracker showing exactly how many days TSOs have gone without a paycheck, because this is not an abstract policy debate. These are real people doing a critical job without pay.
Swift action is needed. Congress must reach a deal, end the shutdown and enact lasting protections that guarantee TSOs are never again asked to secure America’s skies without a paycheck.
Press release courtesy of the US Travel Association.