Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) is pushing new legislation aimed at eliminating special airport privileges for members of Congress, as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to go without pay during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse.
Hinson’s proposal, titled the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act, would bar lawmakers from receiving expedited security screening or escorted access through airport lines—perks that have traditionally allowed them to bypass long waits faced by the general public. The bill is the House companion to legislation introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) which passed the Senate by unanimous consent last week.
The Iowa Republican framed the effort as a matter of fairness during a crisis that has left frontline airport workers unpaid and travelers facing significant disruptions.
“Thanks to Democrats’ political games, TSA agents are working without pay, and many American families are facing 4-plus-hour wait times at airports during spring break,” Hinson told Fox News Digital.
“Some Members of Congress are avoiding the chaos they’ve created by getting preferential treatment and skipping the lines at airports,” she added. “My bill with Senator John Cornyn will eliminate these perks and ensure they face the consequences of inaction.”
Under Hinson’s legislation, taxpayer dollars could no longer be used to provide lawmakers with special airport treatment, and members of Congress would be required to go through the same screening procedures as ordinary travelers. Notably, the restrictions would remain in place even after DHS funding is restored.
The push comes amid a prolonged government funding stalemate that has stretched to 38 days, making it the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history. The lapse has severely strained airport operations nationwide, largely due to staffing shortages caused by unpaid TSA workers.
This Friday marks the second full pay period that TSA agents will miss their paychecks. Workers last received a full paycheck on Feb. 14, followed by a partial payment on Feb. 28, and then missed their March 13 pay period entirely.
The impact has been visible across the country. TSA call-out rates have surged from roughly 2% before the shutdown to more than 10%, according to acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl. Nearly 400 TSA employees have quit since the funding lapse began, raising concerns that smaller airports could face closures if conditions persist.
Major travel hubs have experienced some of the worst disruptions. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, wait times have stretched beyond four hours, with lines spilling outside terminals during peak travel periods.
The situation has also affected emergency response efforts. Following a deadly collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said investigators were delayed for three hours due to long TSA lines.
“It took all day” for investigators to arrive at the scene, Homendy said during an appearance on “FOX & Friends.” “I drove up and beat most of our investigators here. They’re coming from all across the nation and they were in line for hours.”
The crisis has drawn sharp criticism from the airline industry as well. Delta Air Lines recently became the first major carrier to suspend special concierge-style services for members of Congress and their staff.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the company said in a statement first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“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.”
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has been particularly outspoken, condemning lawmakers for allowing the funding lapse to continue.
“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid, and it’s ridiculous to see them being used as political chips,” Bastian told CNBC. “We’re outraged.”
While TSA has already paused official congressional escorts during the shutdown, lawmakers may still receive assistance from other entities. Hinson’s bill seeks to permanently eliminate such preferential treatment.
Sen. Cornyn praised Hinson for advancing the effort in the House, saying, “I’m grateful to Congresswoman Hinson for joining my effort to restore fair practices for all airport travelers by introducing companion legislation in the House, and I urge other Members to support our mission to stop this unfair perk.”
The measure is expected to draw broad support among House Republicans, though it remains unclear when it will be brought to a floor vote.
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I agree with Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) it’s about time the freeloaders known as our representatives stop getting all of the special perks they don’t deserve in the first place.