Delta Air Lines has suspended the special airport services it has long offered to members of Congress amid the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which continues to disrupt air travel across the United States. The airline said the change is tied to the strain the shutdown has placed on resources, with airport operations under pressure as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to work without pay.
In a statement reported by Reuters, Delta said it would temporarily suspend “specialty services” for lawmakers flying on the airline because the prolonged shutdown has made it increasingly difficult to care for customers and employees.
A spokesperson for the airline said that, after safety, its top priority is caring for its people and customers. The move means lawmakers will no longer receive the extra airport assistance Delta has traditionally provided to members of Congress who travel frequently between Washington and their home states. The decision comes at a time when ordinary travelers are facing longer waits at security checkpoints and growing disruptions due to staffing shortages at airports.
What Delta Changed For Members Of Congress
Under the temporary policy change, members of Congress will no longer receive airport escorts or other VIP-style travel assistance from Delta. Reuters reported that lawmakers also will not receive special treatment for services such as seat upgrades or rebooking, though they will still be able to use a special phone line for reservations. Delta’s statement made clear that the suspension applies to the extra handling lawmakers have historically received because of the frequency and importance of their travel, not to their ability to fly with the airline altogether.
Instead, members of Congress will now be handled under the same service framework as other Delta customers, with treatment tied to their SkyMiles status rather than elected office. The move marks a notable shift in how a major carrier is responding publicly to the shutdown, especially as lawmakers remain central to the political dispute that led to the funding lapse. Delta’s decision also follows criticism from Chief Executive Ed Bastian, who has spoken out about the shutdown’s impact on airport workers.
Bastian told CNBC it was “inexcusable” that TSA officers were again missing paychecks and said they were being used as “political chits.” His remarks added to pressure on Washington as airlines and security workers warn that the travel system is becoming harder to manage under the current conditions. Delta’s suspension of congressional perks does not resolve the broader staffing crisis, but it removes a visible benefit that lawmakers had continued to receive while the shutdown dragged on and passengers across the country dealt with the fallout.
TSA Staffing Problems Continue To Disrupt Air Travel
The policy change comes as TSA faces deep staffing strain. TSA employees have gone without pay since mid-February, when Congress allowed Homeland Security funding to expire amid a dispute over immigration enforcement. In a separate Reuters report, a senior TSA official, Ha McNeill, was quoted as preparing to testify before Congress, stating that more than 460 airport officers had quit since the standoff began and that absences had risen above 1 in 10 nationally in recent days.
The same report said some travelers have faced waits of several hours at airport screening checkpoints, while officers have struggled financially as they continue to report to work. McNeill’s testimony, as described by Reuters, said some officers had been sleeping in their cars, selling plasma, and taking on extra jobs while still trying to perform security duties.
