March 11, 2025
Dear Senator/Representative:
On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), AFL-CIO, and the millions of transportation workers that we represent, we urge Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to avert a government shutdown. As America’s largest transportation labor federation, we implore you to prioritize the safety and growth of our transportation systems, workers, and passengers over short-term political agendas.
Both Republicans and Democrats must rise to the occasion to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of our federal government, and especially to protect the workers and resources that provide the traveling public with the safest aviation system in the world and other safety-critical federal services.
Although we appreciate the much-needed increases to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Operations, and National Transportation Safety Board funding included in Speaker Johnson’s proposed Continuing Resolution, we cannot ignore the unnecessary and harmful cuts to infrastructure programs such as Highway Infrastructure Programs, Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, Transit Infrastructure Grants, and the Port Infrastructure Development Program. We urge Congress to come to an agreement on a funding resolution that does not undermine important community investments that serve everyone.
To be clear: a government shutdown would reduce federal safety oversight, strain airport security, delay much-needed infrastructure and planning projects, and furlough thousands of hard-working public servants. Moreover, your constituents will also suffer the consequences as the public transit, passenger rail, and aviation systems they rely on are thrown into havoc. When the federal government shuts down, thousands of aviation workers get furloughed, and tens of thousands more performing critical safety functions are required to work without pay indefinitely. The FAA also pauses the hiring and training of new Air Traffic Controllers. Although Congress usually provides backpay for federal employees after a shutdown ends, thousands of workers who serve the same systems as employees of federal contractors never see a dime. In the event of a shutdown, the Federal Railroad Administration would halt many rulemakings, including those focused on rail safety in the aftermath of the toxic East Palestine train derailment. Our railways would still be dutifully monitored by railroad safety inspectors, but they would work without pay.
The livelihoods of dedicated public sector workers should not be gambled with–no matter the circumstances. TTD and our affiliated unions have said it many times and we’ll say it again: Federal government shutdowns should never happen. We urge Congress to move swiftly to ensure the continued funding of the federal government and the continued funding of critical investments in our transportation infrastructure.
Sincerely,
Greg Regan