As the United States grapples with a prolonged government shutdown, the nation's air travel system is feeling the strain.
On Sunday alone, 8,000 flights were delayed, a significant increase from the 5,300 delays recorded the previous day. This disruption is largely attributed to the ongoing absence of air traffic control workers, a situation exacerbated by the shutdown now entering its fourth week.
The Democrats have consistently voted against measures aimed at reopening the government and compensating air traffic controllers who have been working without pay.
According to The Post Millennial, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted staffing shortages at 22 air traffic control locations on Saturday, as reported by Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration is bracing for further delays and cancellations as the shortage persists.
Since the onset of the shutdown, the number of flight delays has consistently exceeded average levels, underscoring the critical role these workers play in maintaining the nation's air travel infrastructure.
Air traffic controllers, numbering around 13,000, alongside 50,000 TSA staffers, are among the federal employees mandated to work without pay during the shutdown. In an effort to address this, Senate Republicans proposed a bill to ensure compensation for air traffic controllers, military personnel, and other essential government workers.
However, the measure failed to pass, with Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) being the sole Democrat to support it.
The Democrats have resisted a straightforward continuing resolution (CR) that would maintain government funding at existing levels. Instead, they have pushed for a CR that includes increased federal funding to cover healthcare costs for illegal immigrants. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark has openly acknowledged that the Democrats are leveraging the shutdown to advance their party's agenda.
Duffy noted that there are currently 22 "triggers" indicating a shortage of air traffic controllers, describing it as "one of the highest that we've seen in the system" since the beginning of the month. "That's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin," he remarked. In response to their financial predicament, some air traffic controllers are seeking additional employment. "They're taking second jobs, they're out there looking," Duffy added.
As the shutdown drags on, the impact on air travel and the broader economy continues to mount, raising questions about the long-term implications of this political stalemate.
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