A politician’s record on aviation security is likely to become a meaningful factor in the next election, according to a new survey from the U.S. Travel Association.
Most Americans (75%) say they will consider a candidate’s record on topics such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) treatment and funding come November. More than two-thirds (69%) of respondents support funding air traffic controllers and TSA officers independent of federal budget disputes. U.S. Travel polled 2,000 registered voters and found that the sentiment was bipartisan.
Our Analysis: TSA Officers and Air Traffic Controllers Should Be Paid on Time Whether or Not the Government Shuts Down
Government shutdowns are increasingly used as a political bargaining chip — at the expense of American travelers and the TSA officers and air traffic controllers who ensure safe travel. As we saw in late March, when TSA officers aren’t paid for weeks on end, they are forced to call out and work additional jobs to pay their bills, resulting in hours-long security lines and missed flights — not to mention increased traveler anxiety and weakened consumer demand for travel.
These findings send a powerful signal: Voters are paying attention and they’ll remember in November at the polls.
While travel advisors continue to rise to the occasion to guide and advocate for their clients, organizations such as U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Society of Travel Advisors are pushing the public to demand that legislation is passed to separate TSA funding from government shutdowns.
The Aviation Funding Solvency Act (H.R. 6086), the Aviation Funding Stability Act (S. 1045), and the Keep America Flying Act (S. 3031 / H.R. 5851) would each ensure that TSA officers and air traffic controllers are paid during funding lapses.
What They Are Saying: Voters Will Remember the Politicians Who Support TSA Officers
“These findings send a powerful signal: Voters are paying attention and they’ll remember in November at the polls,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “How leaders support TSA officers and protect our aviation system isn’t abstract — it’s something voters are factoring directly into their decisions. When TSA officers miss a paycheck, Americans feel it — in longer lines, increased stress and uncertainty around travel. This is about real people, real experiences and a system millions rely on every day.”
