Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), now CEO of Airlines for America, issued stark warnings on Wednesday about the growing threat that partisan brinkmanship and repeated government shutdowns pose to American aviation. Speaking at The Hill's “Red, Flight & Blue: The Future of U.S. Aviation” event, the two leaders highlighted how what was once a rare crisis has become disturbingly routine.
“This is the scariest part — that unfortunately, this is becoming more normalized,” Sununu said. “Two in one year is completely unprecedented.” He referenced the historic 43-day shutdown that began Oct. 1 and a separate 76-day funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security that ended May 1. Both episodes forced air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees to go without pay for weeks or months, prompting more than 1,000 TSA workers to quit during the most recent shutdown.
Populism as a Third Party
Sununu blamed the dysfunction on what he called a “new third political party” composed of populist lawmakers. “There’s Republicans, there’s Democrats and there’s populism,” he said. “They’re absolutely pointless, and everyone faces the penalty.” He argued that these legislators are “creating havoc on the system” to grab headlines, disrupting the economy, slowing shipping and travel, and undermining systems that otherwise run smoothly.
Larsen, the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, offered a contrast, describing his panel as an “island of partnership in a sea of partisanship” where members leave their “baggage outside the room.” He noted that the committee focuses on tangible results rather than grandstanding. “If you want to be on TV in the District of Columbia, there’s plenty of committees for that,” Larsen said. “If you want to be on TV in your district, we’re the committee for that. We’ll send you home with things to say.”
Air Traffic Controller Shortages and Travel Woes
Larsen also warned about the Federal Aviation Administration’s difficulty retaining air traffic controllers, noting that retirements are partly “on [Congress] with the shutdowns,” creating a long-term challenge for lawmakers. He urged colleagues to avoid complaining about their own travel inconveniences. “I try to tell members of Congress and the committee as well [that] when you’re speaking about your problems that you had on your flight, it’s a bad look,” he said. “If you want to talk about the problems that you saw other people have, that’s great, but no one cares about the life of a member of Congress, to be truthful.”
The event comes amid broader concerns about U.S. aviation infrastructure and capacity, as highlighted in a recent policy briefing on record summer demand. Meanwhile, the political climate remains tense, with former President Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn stoking GOP infighting and raising questions about party discipline.
Sununu and Larsen’s bipartisan warning underscores a growing consensus that the current cycle of shutdowns is unsustainable for critical systems like aviation. As the summer travel season approaches, the pressure on Congress to find a lasting funding solution may intensify.
