Delta Airlines Suspends Special Services for Congress Members Amid Shutdown

Delta Airlines has announced a temporary suspension of its specialized services for members of Congress, citing the ongoing impact of the government’s partial shutdown. This decision comes despite other major airlines remaining quiet on the situation.

A spokesperson for Delta confirmed the news in a statement, noting that the extended government shutdown has hindered the airline’s resources. “Providing services to our employees and customers is becoming increasingly difficult,” the spokesperson added.

In response to inquiries, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines did not share any updates regarding their travel benefits for Congress members during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. United Airlines simply stated that it had no announcements to make at this time.

While the service that allows Congress members to book flights at government rates will still be operational, other benefits such as airport escorts and special assistance have been suspended. Members of Congress will now be treated like any typical Delta customer based on their SkyMiles status.

Reports indicate that the airline’s decision came following increased pressures where Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are working without pay due to the shutdown. This has resulted in staff shortages, leading to longer wait times for travelers.

According to recent news, if the partial shutdown continues, many TSA employees could find themselves without pay within the week. Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed frustration over the treatment of essential workers, calling it “inexcusable” and “ridiculous” for them to be used as political pawns.

In a related legislative move, Rep. Ashley Hinson has proposed a bill that would require Congress members to go through the same TSA checkpoints as regular passengers, restricting the use of federal funds for preferential treatment in airport security. This proposal has seen bipartisan support and recently passed in the Senate.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump commented on the airport chaos, expressing sympathy for the Democratic Party and criticizing their actions surrounding the ongoing shutdown. He also mentioned the possibility of utilizing the National Guard for support at U.S. airports.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson took to social media to highlight the disruptive strategy of Democrats concerning the DHS shutdown, suggesting it unfairly impacts TSA agents and ordinary travelers, while allowing illegal immigrants to bypass important measures.