by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Wed April 1, 2026
A new study found that aviation security and the treatment
of airport workers will play a role in how Americans vote in November.
According to a U.S. Travel Association study, 75% of
respondents said they would consider a political candidate’s record on aviation
security in the next election, with Democratic, Republican, and Independent
voters voicing bipartisan sentiment.
The study also found that 69% of American voters support
funding Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air traffic
controllers independent of federal budget disputes.
“These findings send a powerful signal: voters are paying
attention and they’ll remember in November at the polls,” U.S. Travel
Association Geoff Freeman said. “How leaders support TSA officers and protect
our aviation system isn’t abstract—it’s something voters are factoring directly
into their decisions.”
“When TSA officers miss a paycheck, Americans feel it—in
longer lines, increased stress, and uncertainty around travel,” Freeman
continued. “This is about real people, real experiences and a system millions
rely on every day.”
As part of the U.S. Travel Association’s efforts to
highlight the firsthand role TSA officers play in keeping travelers safe, the
group is advocating in Congress for legislation that would ensure TSA officers
and air traffic controllers are paid during any future shutdowns.
“The American people have made their expectations clear,” Freeman
concluded. “They want TSA officers and air traffic controllers paid—no matter
what. Members of Congress are playing with fire when they hold the air travel
system hostage to their intolerable disputes.”
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