US airlines raise pressure on Dems to end shutdown and reopen the government

The four largest US airlines are now increasing their pressure on Democrats to “pass a clean slate” and reopen the government, with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees and air traffic controllers going without pay.

The push from United, Delta, American and Southwest comes after Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked Republicans’ 13th attempt to reopen the government during the ongoing shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune attempted to advance the House-passed continuing resolution but was again thwarted by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democratic Caucus.

“It’s been 30 days — and I also believe it’s time to pass a clean slate,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told reporters Thursday after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other aviation leaders at the White House. “They used this as an opportunity to get into a room behind closed doors and seriously negotiate the real, substantive issues that the American people want our politicians on both sides of the aisle to solve.”

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“The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR),” American Airlines said in a statement to USA Today. He added, “A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations, and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better.”

The media quoted Southwest Airlines as calling on congress to “immediately resolve the impasse and resume normal government operations.”

“The public expects and deserves to travel in a system where air traffic controllers and federal safety and security personnel are paid on a timely basis,” the company added. “We ask Congress to adopt a clean, continuing resolution.”

Major U.S. airports are facing ground holdups and flight delays amid the ongoing government shutdown

An American Eagle takes off near the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Delta Air Lines also said it “implies Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government” so federal employees who work in aviation can be paid again.

The government’s failure to reopen came on Tuesday with air traffic controllers losing their first full paychecks. Army is scheduled to miss his first full day of pay on Friday. Then there’s the looming abyss for federal nutrition benefits on Saturday — the same day open enrollment begins nationwide for Obamacare.

A United Airlines Boeing 737 arrives at Los Angeles International Airport from Las Vegas on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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FOX Business has reached out to American Airlines, Southwest and Delta for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.