Delta suspends specialty services for Congress members amid shutdown

Delta Airlines announced it is suspending its specialty services to members of Congress as U.S. airports remain jammed with long lines at security checkpoints amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Members of Congress are typically afforded special accommodations at airports, including expedited screening at security checkpoints and courtesy escorts through terminals by Transportation Security Administration agents.

Delta said it is temporarily suspending these services for members of Congress as TSA workers have gone weeks without receiving a pay check after routine funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14, leading to long lines and hours-long wait as agents call out sick or quit rather than work without pay.

“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the airline said in a statement to NBC News. “Next to safety, Delta’s No. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”

Members of Congress will be treated like any regular passenger based on their respective SkyMiles loyalty status, not elected office, Delta said.

The announcement comes just days after the Senate passed a bill ending such special treatments. The bill, introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, requires Congress members to undergo the same TSA screening procedures as all other airline passengers and prohibits the use of federal funds to provide U.S. Senators and House members with expedited or preferential access at airport security checkpoints. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is headed to the House.

Meanwhile, Senators are discussing a proposal to end the Homeland Security budget stalemate by funding much of the department, including TSA airport workers who are going without pay. The deal would exclude U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s removal operations, which have been core to the dispute.