Delta suspends airport perks for members of US Congress as shutdown strains TSA

Delta Air Lines said on March 24, 2026, that it is temporarily suspending special services for members of Congress, citing the strain that the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown has placed on airport operations and airline resources. The move shines a light on a little-known travel perk for lawmakers at a time when ordinary passengers are facing long TSA lines and widespread airport disruption.

Delta said lawmakers flying the airline will no longer receive airport escorts or VIP-style help with services such as seat upgrades or rebooking, though they will still have access to a special phone line for reservations. The airline said the decision was driven by the prolonged shutdown, now entering it’s sixth week, which has complicated efforts to care for both customers and employees.

Members of Congress have historically received special airport treatment beyond what regular travelers get. Senator John Cornyn’s office said lawmakers have long had access to expedited security screening and, in some cases, courtesy escorts through terminals provided by TSA or airport police.

Cornyn has pushed legislation to end those practices permanently, and his office said TSA suspended special escort services for lawmakers during the shutdown and staffing crunch.

Delta’s decision comes as airports around the country continue to feel the impact of the shutdown. Travelers have endured hours-long waits at security checkpoints as resignations and absenteeism have risen among TSA employees, who have gone without pay since mid-February 2026 after Congress allowed DHS funding to lapse in a dispute over immigration enforcement.

President Donald Trump has deployed immigration agents to more than a dozen airports to help with crowd control, a move TSA workers have criticized because they say the agents are not properly trained for checkpoint operations.

The Delta move adds a political dimension to the airport chaos because lawmakers oversee the very federal aviation system now under strain. Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian told CNBC last week that TSA officers should be paid, calling it “inexcusable” that they are again being caught in a political fight.

Delta and many other US airlines typically offer special help to lawmakers who frequently travel between Washington, DC, and their home states.

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