Delta suspends special services for members of Congress amid shutdown
As the partial government shutdown continues to cause disruptions at the nation’s airports, Delta Air Lines said on Tuesday, March 24, that it was suspending special services for members of Congress.
The partial shutdown, which began in mid-February, has impacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Transportation Security Administration.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the airline said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”
The shutdown has also led to a significant increase in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) call-outs, as employees have worked without regular pay for over a month. Travelers have endured long wait times at security checkpoints at U.S. airports due to staffing shortages. Federal officials said more than 400 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began.
Here is what you need to know.
What perks are members of Congress losing?
Similar to other U.S. airlines, Delta offers special services for lawmakers who fly frequently back and forth from Washington, DC.
According to Delta Air Lines, lawmakers will no longer receive special airport escorts or VIP treatment for services like upgrades and rebooking. Delta says that lawmakers will be treated as any other passenger based on their SkyMiles loyalty status.
Lawmakers will still have access to the Capital Desk, a special Delta phone line for ticket reservations.
In an interview with CNBC, Delta CEO Ed Bastian called for the government to restart payments to TSA workers.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, front-line workers central to what we do, are not being paid. It’s ridiculous to see them used as political chips. We’re outraged,” he said.
Contributing: Reuters
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
