Delta Airlines scraps VIP flying perks for Congress members due to TSA stalemate

Republican lawmakers now have a powerful personal incentive to strike a deal with Democrats and restore funding to pay TSA employees — Delta Airlines has suspended the VIP perks that allow members of Congress to skip security lines.

With a two-week congressional recess looming, the Atlanta-based carrier announced it would temporarily halt all special services for lawmakers flying Delta, blaming the cascade of problems created by the ongoing partial government shutdown.

"Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta. 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 airline said in a statement.

Delta — like most major U.S. carriers — routinely provides special treatment for lawmakers who frequently shuttle between Washington and their home districts while simultaneously overseeing the nation's aviation system.

The suspension is comprehensive. Members of Congress will lose airport escorts, priority seat upgrades, rebooking assistance, and other VIP treatment. The only concession — lawmakers will retain access to a dedicated phone line for making reservations.

The move comes as the aviation system buckles under the strain of the shutdown's consequences. Travelers have faced hours-long security screening delays as Transportation Security Administration employees continue to work without paychecks — a situation that began in mid-February when Congress failed to fund the Department of Homeland Security amid disputes over immigration enforcement.

The staffing crisis has worsened dramatically, with TSA resignations climbing as underpaid workers abandon their posts. President Donald Trump has attempted to offset the crisis by deploying immigration agents to more than a dozen airports to assist with crowd control — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from TSA workers who argue the agents lack proper training for security operations.