Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sharply criticized lawmakers over the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding standoff, calling out what he described as a failure of leadership that left travelers facing long security lines and Transportation Security Administration agents without pay for weeks.

Speaking Monday during an appearance on FOX Business’ “The Claman Countdown,” Bastian said the situation created widespread disruptions across the country’s airports and strained both passengers and frontline workers.

“We are beyond frustrated at the lack of leadership that’s coming out of Congress,” Bastian told FOX Business anchor Liz Claman.

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The partial government shutdown, which impacted DHS funding, resulted in TSA agents going without pay starting Feb. 14 as lawmakers remained locked in a funding dispute.

The disruption led to extended wait times at airport security checkpoints, with reports of hours-long lines as staffing levels declined.

Bastian’s remarks followed action taken by President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order on Friday to ensure TSA workers would receive pay after weeks without compensation.

TSA agents began receiving back pay on Monday, according to Bastian.

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“Thank God the president enacted an emergency order to ensure the TSA workers are paid,” Bastian said.

“I appreciate the work that they have done. I appreciate the patience of our customers that have to go through this ordeal, but it’s a travesty.”

Bastian said that since the executive order, conditions at airports have started to improve as agents return to work. He noted that the most recent weekend showed signs of progress compared to earlier periods during the shutdown.

“We’ve seen the lines are starting to dissipate over this past weekend,” Bastian told FOX Business. “It wasn’t nearly as bad as the prior couple of weekends, and hopefully this thing is getting settled down pretty soon.”

During the shutdown, hundreds of TSA agents reportedly left their posts, while others called out sick after missing more than a month of paychecks. The reduced workforce contributed to the long wait times experienced by travelers nationwide.

Despite the disruptions, Bastian praised TSA employees for continuing to support the nation’s transportation system under difficult circumstances.

“We are just so appreciative of the work they do, and hopefully, coming out of this, we’ll have legislation, so we don’t ever have to go through this again,” he said.

“I appreciate all their tremendous sacrifice they make to take care of our transportation system and the safety of that system.”

Bastian also addressed Delta’s decision to suspend certain travel perks typically extended to members of Congress during the shutdown.

The airline halted its airport escort service for lawmakers, requiring them to go through standard security procedures like other passengers.

“We want to make sure they understand what they’re doing and stand in line just like everybody else,” the Delta Airlines CEO said.

“We let their offices know ahead of time, and I think they understand why we had to do what we did.”

He added that the suspension of those benefits would remain in place until operations return to normal and TSA workers are fully compensated.

“At a minimum, until everything is back and running normally, the workers are paid — and at that point, we’ll decide whether we continue it.”

Bastian also urged travelers to remain patient as airports continue to recover from the effects of the shutdown and staffing shortages.

“I ask all customers that are watching to continue to – and they are – be very kind and very patient, and we appreciate their patience as we’re getting through this ordeal,” he said.

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