Bernie Sanders Flies First Class As Airport Chaos Grows During DHS Shutdown

Sen. Bernie Sanders was spotted flying first class out of Washington, D.C., on Friday as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown continued to disrupt air travel across the country.

The Vermont lawmaker’s departure came at a time when airports are dealing with major delays, long security lines, and worsening staffing shortages. TSA agents have been working without pay for weeks, leading to increased callouts and resignations that are straining operations nationwide.

Sanders is not alone in leaving the capital during the ongoing standoff. Multiple lawmakers from both parties have departed Washington despite the unresolved funding fight, even as millions of travelers face growing disruptions at airports.

The funding dispute centers on how to handle DHS appropriations. The Senate passed a bill that would fund parts of the department, including TSA, but excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has become a major sticking point.

House Republicans rejected that proposal and instead passed a short-term measure to fund the entire department, including ICE and Border Patrol. That bill now faces an uncertain path forward in the Senate, leaving the shutdown unresolved.

As the stalemate continues, the impact on travelers is becoming more severe, with extended wait times and operational strain expected to worsen if a deal is not reached soon.