Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the impact of the ongoing government shutdown is spreading through the nation’s air traffic system, with staffing shortages causing widespread flight delays and cancellations. Speaking on CNBC, Duffy described the situation as “like a rolling thunder throughout the system,” saying conditions change daily as different air traffic control facilities become short-staffed.
“You saw New York yesterday was incredibly rough,” he said. “Significant delays.”
Missed Paychecks, Heightened Safety Risks
Duffy said air traffic controllers will again likely receive pay stubs showing “zero” pay for the next period, warning that missing a second paycheck could lead many to quit.
“They all start [seeing] their home finances fall apart,” he said. “They’re going to have to look at taking second jobs or quitting and getting into another line of work.”
He added that the FAA is already short between several thousand controllers, making the situation more difficult.
Pressed on whether a full ground stop could be imminent, Duffy said safety remains the top concern.
“Is there more risk in the system when you have a shutdown? Absolutely, there’s more risk,” he said. “But if we thought that it was unsafe, we again—we’ll shut the whole airspace down. We won’t let people travel.”
He said the FAA is already slowing air traffic in many cases across the country in order to maintain safety with fewer personnel on duty.
Economic Ripple Effects
Duffy also warned that the effects are extending beyond airports.
“This starts to ripple through the economy and has real consequences when people don’t travel,” he said, citing reports from airline executives that bookings are declining.
He added that fewer flights mean fewer people dining out, staying in hotels, or renting cars.Duffy placed blame on congressional inaction over the funding stalemate. Bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate that would provide funding for air traffic controllers and other essential FAA workers in the event of a continued shutdown.
This is what you get when you elect fascists to run the government. Looking on the bright side, when the airspace is shut down, you’ll have plenty of time to think about the consequences of your actions.
Ryan, apparently you don’t know not a single word of this has anything to do with the situation. I have also am sure you don’t know, if you kept your politics to yourself and quit spouting off with insults, maybe somebody would be interested in listening to your rants. How does it feel when everybody thinks you are an idiot?
The problem with fascist or any other totalitarian government is having time to think about how their actions affect others will never matter to them. All they care about is gaining, building and exercising power, no matter what it is about, and they don’t give a rosy red rat rectum about anyone or anything else.
You expect officials who are responsible to the people to be responsible and responsive to the people and their needs. Maybe this was the case in the past, but certainly not now.Here’s an FYI, they aren’t and never will be.
“Libtards” - kind of like Free Checking from the bank when they have nothing else of value to offer you.
Never argue with a fool. Observers won’t be able to tell the difference.
That is correct, as of today: 15 times the Dems have voted to NOT reopen the government! Easy Peasy except they have run it so far they will completely collapse if they cave. either way they are doomed of their own making…