Campaign finance data reveals that Delta Air Lines contributed $3,733,561 and spent $5,625,000 on lobbying activities during the 2024 cycle, according to data released by the FEC and Senate Office of Public Records.

Delta Air Lines PAC contributed a total of $1,004,500 during the 2023-2024 election cycle, with approximately 62.72% of the funds going to Republican candidates and 36.78% to Democrats. In the Senate race, contributions were even more skewed, with Republicans receiving 77.22% compared to 22.78% for Democrats. The data was released by the Federal Election Commission on February 06, 2025.

A former employee, Clarissa Mohammed, filed a lawsuit alleging that Delta Air Lines engaged in workplace discrimination and retaliation, including instances of harassment, derogatory ethnic slurs, and failure to act on complaints, which ultimately led to her suspension and termination.

Delta Air Lines faces a federal lawsuit filed on November 21, 2024, alleging that the airline discriminated against a black former recruiter by paying him less than his peers and subjecting him to harsher discipline despite his repeated complaints about racial bias.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has condemned Delta Air Lines for rejecting a shareholder resolution that would have committed the airline to follow International Labour Organization standards. Critics highlight issues including anti‑union messaging, surveillance of union supporters, and the exclusion of workers from key decision-making forums, all of which undermine fair labor practices.

Ahead of its annual investor meeting, external stakeholders including over 100 members of Congress and investor Amalgamated Bank have pressed Delta Air Lines to adopt a neutrality policy that would prevent the company from interfering with employees' unionization efforts. The resolution, filed this week along with congressional urging, comes amid reports of inconsistent treatment of workers and alleged threats against those supporting union representation.

On February 13, 2024, 146 members of Congress signed a letter urging Delta Air Lines to adopt a neutrality agreement to halt its anti-union practices. The letter highlighted a range of tactics including threats to terminate employees involved in union activities, an anti-union website, and past expenditures aimed at quashing unionization efforts.

House Democrats and over 140 lawmakers urged Delta Air Lines to adopt a neutrality agreement that would prevent the company from interfering with union organizing efforts, highlighting concerns over its silence on improving worker rights.

Delta Air Lines spent $5,240,000 on lobbying activities in 2023, according to OpenSecrets data. This significant expenditure underscores the company's active involvement in shaping policy through political lobbying, raising concerns about corporate influence on the political process.

Delta Air Lines outlined its commitment to ethical political engagement, detailing its lobbying efforts and policy advocacy on issues including fair trade, climate change, and workforce development. The company's executive team manages these activities with transparency through annual reports and formal oversight by board committees.

Delta Air Lines, a commercial partner for CBP’s Biometric Entry-Exit Program since 2016, has recently begun testing facial recognition technology at self-service check-in kiosks. This move, documented in a GAO report, raises concerns over privacy and civil liberties as it deepens the integration of surveillance technologies at airports without robust privacy safeguards.

In June 2016, Delta Air Lines participated in a pilot program by allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to test biometric facial recognition technology on departing overseas flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This involvement raises concerns about enabling state surveillance and potential infringements on passenger privacy.