Why Trump Officers Are Issuing Air Journey Security Warnings

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air visitors controllers are feeling growing strain at work amid the federal government shutdown for which Republicans and Democrats are each holding one another accountable.

“I want them to think about the departures and arrivals of airplanes. I want to make sure they keep Americans, and airplanes, safe,” said Duffy throughout a press convention at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey on Monday. “But they’re not just thinking about the airspace, they’re thinking about: ‘Am I going to get a paycheck?’ ‘How am I going to pay my mortgage?’ ‘How do I make my car payment?’ ‘Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber?’”

Air visitors controllers would have usually obtained their subsequent paycheck on Oct. 14, Duffy stated, however they’ll not be paid till the federal government reopens.

An estimated 13,000 air visitors controllers and 61,000 TSA staff are anticipated to proceed working with out pay all through the shutdown.

“In a job that’s already stressful, this shutdown has put way more stress on our controllers… we ask them to do their jobs on old equipment and keep our airports operational,” stated Duffy, echoing President Donald Trump’s former feedback concerning the “obsolete” U.S. air visitors management system, which he has vowed to “modernize.”

Duffy went on guilty Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the shutdown. Republicans and Democrats are locked in a bitter stalemate over spending and well being care objects. Democrats are demanding a reversal of the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and preventing to increase Obamacare tax credit, that are set to run out on the finish of the 12 months.

“I want to make sure that Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries know that this is not consequence free, there are issues that arise throughout America that impact our everyday lives, that can impact our safety, when you shut the government down,” Duffy acknowledged.

Although citing important considerations, Duffy went on to emphasise that the U.S. airspace shouldn’t be unsafe, regardless of the growing strain on air visitors controllers.

“If we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” he assured the general public, earlier than including that coaching personnel might quickly be subjected to layoffs, probably inflicting additional delays and cancellations.

Major flight delays, cancellations, and closures trigger upset for vacationers

FlightAware tracked over 6,200 delays and over 90 cancellations within the U.S. throughout Monday and early Tuesday. Over 40% of all flights had been delayed out of each Orlando International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International, in addition to 23% at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles County.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom of the Democratic Party publicly blamed his long-time sparring companion Trump for the disarray at Burbank Airport, which was left with out air visitors controllers for six hours on Monday.

“Thanks, Donald Trump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” Newsom said, after native information shops reported the absence of workers.

Newark Liberty International encountered delays on 16% of its complete flights on Monday. Denver International confronted related chaos, with delays for 247 outbound and 358 inbound flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s website featured a staffing situation discover on Monday evening at round 7 p.m., lasting till 1 a.m. ET.

On Tuesday morning, the FAA warned that additional floor delays are anticipated at airports together with Denver International and Boston Logan. Closures, much like that seen at Burbank on Monday, might additionally strike Tampa International and Miami International, with each airports flagged as “ground stop possible” by the FAA.

In response to TIME’s request for additional data, the FAA stated that “due to a lapse in funding” it’ll have “limited communications, but will send any significant safety messaging.”

Aviation employees face six-day weeks with no pay

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents air visitors management workers, urged employees to maintain on turning up for his or her shifts amid an increase in recorded sick absences over the previous week.

“We’re tracking sick calls and sick leave. And have we had a slight tick up in sick calls? Yes. And then you’ll see delays come from that,” Duffy informed reporters. 

“NATCA does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS (National Airspace System),” said the union on Monday. 

“Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”

Per NATCA, many visitors management workers and different aviation employees should work six-day weeks, usually on 10-hour shifts, throughout the shutdown. The union acknowledged that throughout the 2018-2019 authorities shutdown, a lot of its members needed to take up second jobs to fill the lacking pay.

Roughly 2,350 NATCA-represented aviation security professionals can be furloughed throughout the shutdown. “Critical safety support, operational support, and modernization work will stop,” NATCA has warned.

Staff shortages inside management towers throughout the nation has already been a priority previous to the federal government shutdown. A CBS analysis of FAA information in January discovered that solely 10% of U.S. towers are sufficiently staffed to satisfy FAA requirements.

Subsidies for rural airline providers might expire as quickly as Sunday

The federal funding that gives entry to air journey for smaller and rural communities is ready to expire on Oct. 12, in accordance with the Trump Administration.

“There’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service,” stated Secretary Duffy. “Every state across the country will be impacted by the inability to provide the subsidies to airlines to service these communities.” 

Duffy went on to say that the Essential Air Service (EAS) has lengthy been a program supported by each Republicans and Democrats. 

As of November 2024, EAS offers subsidies “to 65 communities in Alaska and 112 communities in the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that otherwise may not receive any scheduled air service.”