Members of Congress may have to start flying like everyone else—at least for now.

Delta Air Lines has temporarily suspended special travel perks for lawmakers and their staff amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, a move that’s turning airport inconvenience into political pressure.

The airline confirmed that it is halting its “specialty services,” which typically include airport escorts, expedited assistance, priority rebooking, and its signature “Red Coat” customer service support—all perks that helped lawmakers move quickly through busy travel days.

Now, members of Congress flying Delta will be treated like any other traveler, with access to benefits based strictly on their SkyMiles status—not their political position.

The decision comes as airports across the country are dealing with chaos tied to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Thousands of TSA workers have been working without pay, leading to callouts, resignations, and security lines stretching for hours in some cities.

Delta made it clear the move is about resources—and a little bit of accountability.

“Next to safety, our priority is taking care of our people and customers,” the airline said in a statement, noting that the current environment has made that increasingly difficult.

Behind the scenes, Delta CEO Ed Bastian has been even more direct, criticizing lawmakers for allowing the shutdown to drag on and calling the treatment of TSA workers “inexcusable.”

Importantly, Delta isn’t cutting Congress off entirely. Lawmakers still have access to the airline’s dedicated Capitol Desk reservation line, which helps with booking and last-minute travel changes. But the VIP treatment at the airport? Gone—for now.

The message is pretty clear: if lawmakers want their perks back, they may need to fix the system that’s currently slowing everyone else down.

And honestly? It’s a rare moment where inconvenience might actually force empathy. Standing in a four-hour TSA line hits different when you’re used to skipping it.