The US Airforwarders Association (AfA) is increasingly concerned about the impact of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shutdowns on aviation operations.
The shutdown of the two agencies has been ongoing since 13 February, leaving airport workers without pay. The AfA said that more than 300 TSA officers have so far resigned as a result.
The ongoing shutdown raises “serious questions about staffing resilience across the aviation security system”, the AfA said in a press release.
“We are increasingly concerned about the growing operational risks to the US aviation system and the wider supply chain,” the association explained.
“While the immediate impact is being felt at passenger checkpoints, prolonged disruption to TSA staffing inevitably creates knock-on effects for airport operations and the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the potential impact on cargo processing, airport access, and overall airside efficiency.”
The shutdown has been in place for more than a month now, with several funding proposals having failed to secure approval from Congress.
“Freight forwarders depend on predictable airport operations and stable security programs to move time-sensitive shipments, and any sustained degradation in staffing or operational performance makes it harder for the industry to plan capacity, manage customer expectations, and maintain reliable supply chains,” the AfA said.
“The longer this shutdown persists, the more disruption will spread, the greater the risk to cargo operations, and the harder recovery will become.”
The AfA pointed out that freight forwarders are already navigating a complex operating environment shaped by new tariff measures and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“The priority now must be to restore stability and predictability for businesses that rely on the movement of goods,” the AfA said.
“We urge policymakers to move quickly to resolve the DHS shutdown, ensure TSA personnel are paid, and provide the stable policy environment that US businesses and global supply chains depend upon.”
Airline CEOs, including those from Delta and American Airlines, yesterday issued a similar plea in a letter to US lawmakers.
The US also suffered a government shutdown last year that affected the aviation market.
