Cruz Bill Seeks Controller Payment during Govt. Shutdown

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced a bill that would enable essential FAA and TSA employees to get paid during the government shutdown. Co-sponsored by Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Dan Sullivan R-Alaska), and John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), S.3031, the Keep America Flying Act of 2026, calls for continued payment for air traffic controllers and other essential FAA employees, along with certain TSA workers, “during the period in which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., the government shutdown).”

Other covered FAA employees would be “essential operational personnel whose services are required for the safe and orderly operation of the National Airspace System,” while the TSA employees covered would be those engaged in “screening operations, aviation security duties, or related mission-support functions necessary to carry out security screening.” In addition, the bill would facilitate payments to FAA and TSA contractors supporting those employees and would be retroactive to October 1.

The Senate is considering taking up the legislation this week for a vote. However, another bill to ensure all essential government workers are paid—those who must work through the government shutdown—failed to win Senate support last week.

Air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck today (they received partial payment on October 14), and staffing shortages at towers have continued to cause delays throughout the National Airspace System.