Addison Fouts
Associate Editor
JD 2027, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
The ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has caused widespread disruption for travelers. Wait times have been record breaking due to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) staffing shortages. A new bill has been passed in the Senate to end special treatment for members of Congress who can currently bypass these long lines. While the legislation may ignore the root issue of long wait times for travelers and short staffing for TSA agents, it highlights the growing public demand for fairness and accountability in our nation’s government.
Partial Government shutdown leads to traveler frustrations
DHS has been shut down since February 14, 2026, making this the longest shutdown of DHS in history. As a result of the shutdown, funding has been stopped for the Department. The Senate came to an agreement on March 27, 2026 to end the shutdown, however, it was refused by the House of Representatives. There is no end in sight for the shutdown as The House and Senate entered a two-week congressional recess for the Easter and Passover holidays.
Frustration is growing amid travelers due to long wait times in airports across the country. The recent wait times have been caused by TSA staffing shortages due to the DHS shutdown. It has been reported that wait times have been up to four hours, the longest in TSA’s history. TSA agents went six weeks working without pay and are now receiving back pay. DHS reported that most TSA officers received a paycheck that included at least two full two-week paychecks, with the promise that a plan is in place to provide workers with the remainder of their missed paychecks. Many travelers expressed the importance of TSA agents being paid, some even purchasing gift cards for agents at the airport.
At the end of March, the Senate unanimously passed a bill called the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026. The bill aims to eliminate perks that allow members of Congress to skip long airport lines, placing them on the same footing as other travelers. Supporters see it as a first step toward broader reform. However, the bill must still pass the House and be signed by the President before it becomes law. In the meantime, TSA has already suspended its courtesy escort service for members of Congress during the partial shutdown. This legislation would require members of Congress to go through the same TSA screening procedures as all other travelers, ending the use of federal funds to expedite their passage through airport security. Like anyone else, they could still enroll in programs such as TSA PreCheck if they choose.
In addition, Delta Air Lines has recently suspended its VIP travel perks for members of Congress, which previously allowed them to bypass standard screening. As a result, those members will also lose access to certain privileges tied to that program including priority upgrades, flexible rebooking, and dedicated concierge assistance that expedited check-in and travel arrangements. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said, “It’s inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid, and it’s ridiculous to see them being used as political chips.” The outrage by both the government and the private sector demonstrates just how important it is for change to be implemented.
Will the bill create actual change?
While the bill has bipartisan support in the Senate, its broader political and practical implications are important considerations. On one hand, the legislation is mostly symbolic because it does not address or resolve the underlying issue of the DHS shutdown. Additionally, the bill does not address the staffing shortages that are creating long lines for travelers and an overflow of work for TSA agents. Removing expedited security privileges for members of Congress may just create a shared inconvenience rather than a meaningful policy solution. However, this bill may have some positive effect because it allows lawmakers to experience what the everyday traveler goes through at the airport. If lawmakers experience unprecedented wait times at the airport, they may have more motivation to come to an agreement and end the DHS shutdown.
As TSA agents are overwhelmed with long lines and limited resources to efficiently tackle them, scarce airport resources should not be expended on members of Congress. Additionally, the legislation raises broader questions about privilege and equity within government systems. If members of Congress are subject to the same conditions as the public in airports, similar standards that apply in other contexts where disparities exist may also be questioned. Although the bill has yet to become law, it reflects a growing demand from the public for fairness, transparency, and accountability from Congress members.