Marketplace All-in-One Air travel as a political football
Mar 16, 2026
Daniel Holtz, director of the Existential Risks Laboratory and expert on nuclear risk and AI, and Nova Safo, Marketplace transportation reporter covering policy and on-the-ground impacts. They discuss missed paychecks for TSA and controllers amid a partial shutdown and airlines' calls for funding. They also explore how AI could interact with military systems and heighten global risks.
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Pass Laws To Protect Aviation Workers Pay
- Urge Congress to fund DHS to prevent travel disruptions and employee pay gaps during shutdowns.
- Airlines want three bills guaranteeing pay for TSA and air traffic controllers to avoid costly rebookings and lost profits seen in the long shutdown.
Shutdowns Amplify Peak Travel Chaos
- Shutdown-driven staff shortages cause visible passenger impacts like long security lines and advisories to arrive three hours early.
- The disruptions are amplified because this occurred during peak spring break travel, raising operational strain for airlines.
Shutdowns Cost Airlines Hundreds Of Millions
- Government shutdowns impose large direct costs on airlines through cancellations, delays, and rebooking overhead.
- During the longest U.S. shutdown, big carriers reported hundreds of millions in lost profits, motivating the CEOs' push for change.