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 introduced the "Keep America Flying Act of 2026" to ensure essential FAA and TSA workers continue to be paid during federal government shutdowns.
Sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, the bill aims to address the current situation where essential FAA and TSA personnel are working without pay.
The lack of compensation has led to an increase in sick calls among FAA air traffic controllers, while reports suggest the act would also provide back pay to these workers.

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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.