Thousands of holiday flights are on the brink of chaos as air traffic controllers, TSA agents and pilots refuse to work without pay. With more than 3,000 daily departures in the system, a single absenteeism spike will gridlock America’s skies—and ruin millions of family trips.
Vice President J.D. Vance didn’t mince words at Thursday’s roundtable with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and airline executives. “If our frontline workers aren’t paid, they’ll walk out the door,” Vance declared. “That means massive delays for every American trying to get home for the holidays.”
Airlines for America CEO and former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu laid out the stark reality: morale is collapsing. He warned of a “tarmac logjam” rivaling the 2019 meltdown—except this time it will be entirely self-inflicted by Washington Democrats.
Sununu praised the FAA’s heroic efforts to hold the line so far. But he made one thing crystal clear: “We’re at the tipping point. Once air traffic controllers stop showing up, and TSA agents drive Ubers to feed their families, the system will buckle.”
Republicans have offered a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government and restore paychecks. Democrats have flatly refused, demanding last-minute health-care giveaways in exchange for basic funding. They’re playing chicken with America’s holiday travel, treating pilots and passengers like pawns in a petty political standoff.
Let’s be blunt: this shutdown is sabotage. It betrays hardworking federal employees and millions of Americans counting on smooth, safe travel. It jeopardizes national security and inflicts economic damage on airports, hotels and small businesses nationwide.
There is only one solution: Congress must pass a clean funding bill now. Republicans are ready. The House unanimously approved it. The Senate must stop this crisis today—no more hostage-taking, no more threats, no more excuses.
America’s holidays shouldn’t be derailed by Washington gridlock. Lawmakers owe it to every traveler, every frontline worker and every family expecting to make it home. End the shutdown. Restore pay. Get America flying again.
