Senate Republicans Sponsor Bill to Pay FAA, TSA Workers

Essential staff from both agencies continue to work through the government shutdown.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 04:07 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Senate Republicans, led by Senator Ted Cruz, introduced the "Keep America Flying Act of 2026" to ensure essential FAA and TSA workers continue to be paid during federal government shutdowns.
The bill aims to address the current situation where these essential personnel are working without pay due to the ongoing shutdown, which has led to increased sick calls among air traffic controllers.
While the full text is pending, initial reports indicate the act would provide continuing appropriations and potentially back pay for these critical transportation employees.

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Senate Republicans this week introduced a bill that would continue to pay essential FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers during the federal government shutdown.

The full text of the “Keep America Flying Act of 2026” is not yet available through Congress’ website, but a summary provided by the Government Publishing Office (GPO) says the bill would make “continuing appropriations” for essential FAA and TSA personnel.