On Feb. 14, a partial government shutdown began in the United States, and among the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) branches that continue to be impacted is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
In a Feb. 17 press release, the DHS said that “the longer the shutdown lasts, the more severe the impact will be on the transportation security officers and other front-line workers who will have to keep coming to work.”
In reaction to the shutdown, leading travel organizations — including the U.S. Travel Association, Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives and the American Hotel & Lodging Association — are taking action, launching the “Pay Federal Aviation Workers” campaign today. The campaign is designed to inspire Americans to reach out to their Congressional representatives and urge them to pass legislation that ensures essential federal aviation workers get paid, even during a government shutdown.
Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers.
“TSA officers screen nearly 1 billion passengers per year, and with an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Right now, Congress is allowing them to do that work without one. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers. So does the economy. That is why America's travel industry has come together, because this workforce is too important, and the stakes are too high, for this to keep happening."
Meanwhile, Advisors Keep Their Clients Informed
Matthew Angelo, a travel advisor with National Discount Cruise Company, has to keep track of all of the above in order to guide his clients from an informed perspective.
“As nice as it would be to avoid the news some days, it is one of the most important parts of our jobs, because what happens across the country and around the world constantly affects our industry,” Angelo said. “Situations like this are always a good reminder of the role a travel advisor plays. With so many things constantly changing, this is one less thing our clients need to track, as we handle it for them.”
Angelo is currently recommending that clients allow for more time at airports, in case of TSA delays. Arriving prepared for longer lines is also wise — even if clients have Clear or Pre-Check status.
“The biggest thing I think about as an advisor, though, is international arrivals and connections,” he added. “Many clients rely on Global Entry to move quickly through immigration upon landing in the U.S., especially if they're connecting to a domestic flight. With the Global Entry shutdown, that process can suddenly take much longer than it used to.”
Global Entry has been closed, due to this partial shutdown, since Feb. 22.
Angelo is encouraging clients in these situations to be more conservative with connection times. Allowing for extra time means they won’t be rushing through immigration, customs and security. In some cases, Angelo says it may even make sense to schedule a client’s connection much later, or the next day.
“Ultimately, communication is the most important part,” Angelo said. “When issues like this come up, I reach out to my clients who are traveling soon and simply walk them through the process and ask them if they have any questions. This often sets their expectations correctly, and they become more understanding when they arrive and things take a bit longer than intended. This just strengthens my relationship with my clients, and in turn shows our value and why it's worth having someone in your corner when you travel.”
Joining the “Pay Federal Aviation Workers” Campaign
At the top of the campaign homepage, users will see a “Click Here to Take Action” button. I did so, and after entering my name, address and phone number, a pre-written letter populated, and my local representatives were already selected as the appropriate recipients of my letter. There is the option to edit the note, should a respondent want to. I sent my letter to three representatives in less than a minute.
The automatically populated note echoes what travel association leaders are calling on Congress to do — pass the Aviation Funding Solvency Act and the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which “guarantee that essential federal workers are paid for their essential work during any future government shutdown.” This includes air traffic controllers, TSA officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, all of whom play an essential role in the safety of travelers and the smooth operation of airports.
