Delta Suspends Special Services for Congress Amid Shutdown

Amid a five-week Department of Homeland Security shutdown that has led to reduced airport staffing, Delta Air Lines is suspending special services for members of Congress.

The airline’s special desk at airports enables members to bypass the public queue to arrange travel between Washington, D.C. and their homes.

“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” reads a statement from the airline reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The agency has been shut down since Feb. 14, as Senate Democrats have continued to block a bill that would fully fund it. 

Democrats have called for codifying restraints on immigration law enforcement officers, such as prohibiting the use of masks and requiring judicial warrants in more instances.

Delta explained to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the change would mean that members of Congress would receive the same service as other customers.

“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 statement added.

The move follows an interview in which Delta CEO Ed Bastian said it was “inexcusable” that members of Congress use Transportation Security Administration agents “as political chips.” According to Reuters, 50,000 TSA agents are not being paid during the shutdown.

More than 3,250 TSA employees called out on Saturday, or “11.51% of the scheduled workforce,” according to data obtained by ABC News. More than 400 TSA agents have resigned since the start of the shutdown, Reuters reported.

This strain on staffing and resources has led to long lines and congestion in several major U.S. airports. 

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of Immigration Customs Enforcement officers in airports to aid transportation security staff.

More than 100 airport leaders on Monday urged Congress to end the funding standoff, Reuters reported.

The CEOs of Airports Council International – North America and the American Association of Airport Executives, joined by more than 100 airport leaders in a letter, urged an end to the impasse, citing concerns “about the growing operational disruptions at airports… The impacts of the shutdown are significant, growing, and potentially long-lasting.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

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