Republicans fret as shutdown threatens Thanksgiving journey chaos

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration are more and more anxious that an ongoing standoff with Democrats over reopening the federal government might drag into Thanksgiving week, one of many nation’s busiest journey durations.

Already, a whole bunch of flights have been canceled because the Federal Aviation Administration issued an unprecedented directive limiting flight operations on the nation’s largest airports, together with in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Washington, D.C.

Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, informed Fox News on Thursday that the administration is ready to mitigate security issues if the shutdown continues into the vacation week, leaving air site visitors controllers with out compensation over a number of payroll cycles. But “will you fly on time? Will your flight actually go? That is yet to be seen,” the secretary stated.

While below 3% of flights have been grounded, that quantity may rise to twenty% by the vacation week, he added.

“It’s really hard — really hard — to navigate a full month of no pay, missing two pay periods. So I think you’re going to have more significant disruptions in the airspace,” Duffy stated. “And as we come into Thanksgiving, if we’re still in a shutdown posture, it’s gonna be rough out there. Really rough.”

Senate Republicans stated they’re keen to work by the weekend, up by Veterans Day, to provide you with an settlement with Democrats that might finish the federal government shutdown, which is already the longest in historical past.

But congressional Democrats imagine their leverage has solely grown to extract extra concessions from the Trump administration because the shutdown goes on.

A powerful displaying in races throughout the nation in Tuesday’s elections buoyed optimism amongst Democrats that the occasion lastly has some momentum, because it focuses its messaging on affordability and a rising cost-of-living disaster for the center class.

Democrats have withheld the votes wanted to reopen the federal government over Republican refusals to increase Affordable Care Act tax credit. As a end result, Americans who get their healthcare by the ACA market have begun seeing dramatic premium hikes since open enrollment started on Nov. 1 — additional fueling Democratic confidence that Republicans will face a political backlash for his or her shutdown stance.

Now, Democratic calls for have expanded, insisting Republicans assure that federal staff receives a commission again for his or her time furloughed or working with out pay — and that those that have been fired get their jobs again.

A invoice launched by Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, referred to as the Shutdown Fairness Act, would make sure that federal staff obtain again pay throughout a authorities funding lapse. But Democrats have objected to a vote on the measure that’s not tied to their different calls for, on ACA tax breaks and the standing of fired staff.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has proposed passing a clear persevering with decision already handed by the House adopted by separate votes on three payments that will fund the federal government by the 12 months. But his Democratic counterpart stated Friday he needs to attach a vote on extending the ACA tax credits to an extension of presidency funding.

Democrats, joined by some Republicans, are additionally demanding protections inbuilt to any authorities spending payments that will safeguard federal applications towards the Trump administration withholding funds appropriated by Congress, a course of referred to as impoundment.

President Trump, for his half, blamed the continued shutdown for Tuesday’s election outcomes earlier this week, telling Republican lawmakers that polling exhibits the persevering with disaster is hurting their occasion. But he additionally continues to advocate for Thune to cast off the filibuster, a core Senate rule requiring 60 votes for payments that fall outdoors the funds reconciliation course of, and easily reopen the federal government with a vote down occasion strains.

“If the filibuster is terminated, we will have the most productive three years in the history of our country,” Trump informed reporters on Friday at a White House occasion. “If the filibuster is not terminated, then we will be in a slog, with the Democrats.”

So far, Thune has rejected that request. But the bulk chief stated Thursday that “the pain this shutdown has caused is only getting worse,” warning that 40 million Americans threat meals insecurity as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapses.

The Trump administration misplaced a court docket case this week arguing that it may withhold SNAP advantages, a program that was considerably defunded within the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill” act earlier this 12 months.

“Will the far left not be satisfied until federal workers and military families are getting their Thanksgiving dinner from a food bank? Because that’s where we’re headed,” Thune added.