Marketplace Morning Report Air travel as a political football
Mar 16, 2026
Daniel Holtz, director at the University of Chicago’s Existential Risks Laboratory and Bulletin science chair, offers expert takes on how AI can amplify global threats. Nova Safo, Marketplace transportation reporter, details how the DHS shutdown left TSA and controllers missing pay and snarled air travel. They discuss rising resignations, legislative fixes to protect pay, and the widening risks tech can introduce.
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Fund DHS Now To Prevent Travel Chaos
- Do fund Department of Homeland Security to avoid operational chaos at airports during shutdowns.
- Airline CEOs urge Congress to pass three bills guaranteeing pay for TSA and air traffic controllers to prevent costly cancellations and rebooking headaches.
Pay Interruptions Turn Into Long Airport Lines
- Airport operations strain quickly when frontline workers stop getting paid, producing long security lines and advice to arrive earlier.
- Airports asked travelers to arrive three hours early as airlines scramble to hold and rebook passengers during spring break.
Legislate Pay Continuity For Aviation Workers
- Do pass statutory protections so TSA and air traffic controllers get paid during future shutdowns.
- CEOs specifically asked Congress to enact three bills that ensure pay continuity to avoid repeat disruptions.