Major airline CEOs come together to plead for deal on DHS funding

Published March 16, 2026 10:15am ET



Ten executives of major U.S. airlines are asking Congress to agree on a deal to end the funding stalemate directly affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which pays airport security staff.

The partial government shutdown remains ongoing as Democrats and Republicans in the Senate refuse to compromise on the minority party’s objections to federal immigration funding. Democrats want to place more oversight on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while Republicans believe the DHS appropriations bill should be passed without those limits.

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