Long lines, packed terminals and flight boards filled with delays. The ripple effects of the government shutdown are spreading through America’s airports.
With nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers now missing more than a month of pay, the system is straining under the pressure.
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At major hubs from Los Angeles to Dallas, staffing shortages are forcing ground holds and slower departures. However, it’s likely just the beginning.
Duffy’s warning
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned travelers that they will see more disruptions as the government shutdown continues, a statement he reiterated on Sunday.
“I think the real consequence is what kind of rolling delays do you have throughout the system, right? We’ve seen problems at LAX, in Dallas, in DC, Boston, Atlanta. I think it’s only going to get worse. We have some controllers who are new controllers. We have trainee controllers who are very helpful in the tower. They don’t make a lot of money. And they’re now confronted. They haven’t had a paycheck in over a month. They’re confronted with the decision: do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid.”
— Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
Duffy said the government will halt traffic only if safety becomes an issue. Until then, travelers should expect more slowdowns and cancellations.
Government shutdown
The shutdown is now in its fifth week with no sign of relief as the holiday travel season fast approaches.
President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that he won’t reopen the government until Democrats drop their push to include health care funding in the spending bill.
Democrats are refusing to move forward unless Republicans agree to extend subsidies for the more than 20 million Americans covered under the Affordable Care Act.
