No Shutdown Groundings: New Bill Guarantees Pay for Air Traffic Controllers and TSA Screeners Through 2026

The Keep America Flying Act of 2026 is a piece of legislative plumbing designed to prevent aviation chaos. Simply put, this bill ensures that the people who keep us safe in the air and on the ground—specifically FAA air traffic controllers and TSA security personnel—will keep getting paid, even if Congress fails to pass a budget for the 2026 fiscal year (which starts October 1, 2025). The bill immediately appropriates the necessary funds for their salaries, allowances, and benefits, ensuring they don't have to choose between their critical safety job and their mortgage during a government funding lapse (SEC. 2).

The Shutdown Safety Net

If you’ve ever had a flight delayed or canceled because of a government shutdown, you understand how critical these workers are. This bill is essentially an emergency credit card for aviation safety. It guarantees funding for all essential FAA operational personnel required for the “safe and orderly operation of the national airspace system.” For the TSA, it covers employees involved in screening operations and aviation security duties (SEC. 2). This means the people guiding planes and checking bags are protected from the political drama in Washington. Crucially, the bill also extends this guaranteed funding to the contractors supporting these essential FAA and TSA functions, ensuring that critical maintenance and support services don't stop either.

How the Money Works

This isn't free money; it’s a commitment to pay now and sort out the accounting later. The bill explicitly states that any money spent under this continuing appropriation must be “charged against the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization” once the official 2026 funding bill is finally enacted (SEC. 2). Think of it like taking out a short-term loan against your future paycheck—the money is spent, but it’s guaranteed to be covered by the eventual budget. This measure takes effect retroactively, acting “as if it were officially enacted on September 30, 2025,” to cover any potential gap immediately following the end of the previous fiscal year (SEC. 4).

The Fine Print on Flexibility

While the goal of keeping essential personnel paid is clear, there is a section that grants significant leeway. The bill gives the Secretary of Transportation and the TSA Administrator the power to determine payments to supporting contractors (SEC. 2). This means they have broad discretion in deciding which contractors are “necessary” and how much they get paid under this emergency funding structure. While this flexibility is required to maintain operations, it’s worth noting that the criteria for these payments aren't detailed in the bill itself. The authority to spend these funds ends on September 30, 2026, or the moment Congress passes the regular appropriation bill—whichever comes first (SEC. 3).