Lever Time Why Congress Won't Stop Hijacking Air Travel
Apr 2, 2026
Bill McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel and longtime airline analyst, breaks down why U.S. air travel is in crisis. He discusses TSA funding standoffs, air traffic controller shortages, regulatory capture by airlines, and risky policy rollbacks. He also explains why certain airports are accident-prone and argues for fewer flights and better responsiveness to frontline safety warnings.
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Decades Of Underfunding Have Eroded Aviation Safety
- U.S. air travel safety has eroded due to decades of politicized underfunding and staffing shortfalls.
- Bill McGee traces problems to long-term FAA understaffing, shutdowns, and withholding TSA pay that demoralize frontline workers.
Shutdowns Turn Screeners Into Gig Workers
- Withheld pay and repeated shutdowns push TSA screeners and FAA safety inspectors into secondary jobs, reducing staffing and frontline oversight.
- McGee reports screeners driving for gig apps and inspectors sitting at home during shutdowns, sapping morale and capacity.
Airlines Use Stealth Lobbying To Weaken Oversight
- Big airlines run a stealth lobbying machine that seeks weak oversight rather than overt partisan fights.
- McGee details Airlines for America and quiet influence shaping DOT agendas and regulatory rollbacks under industry-friendly leadership.