WASHINGTON: Republicans have issued stark warnings about potential chaos at United States airports as the government shutdown threatens to extend into November.
House Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned that millions of Americans could see their holiday plans ruined by the ongoing political standoff.
The shutdown has now entered its fourth week with President Donald Trump’s Republicans and opposition Democrats under increasing pressure to resolve the impasse.
More than 60,000 air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers are currently working without pay.
Johnson highlighted that increasing absenteeism among unpaid airport staff could lead to major disruptions at security check-in lines nationwide.
“We are rounding into a holiday season and we’re in the middle of the height of the football season,” Johnson told a news conference.
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans are going to travel to football games this weekend and if the current trajectory continues, many Americans could miss watching their favorite teams.”
Airport workers calling in sick rather than working without pay was a major factor in ending the 2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days.
Johnson revealed that staffing shortages now account for more than 50% of flight delays compared to just 5% during normal operations.
He reported that 19,000 flights experienced delays from Saturday to Monday alone, with this rate expected to increase as the shutdown continues.
Johnson explained that many airport workers are taking second jobs as Uber drivers or food delivery workers after completing their long shifts.
“The longer the shutdown goes on, and as fewer air traffic controllers show up to work, the safety of the American people is thrown further into jeopardy,” he warned.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he had spoken with control tower staff expressing deepening anger over the shutdown.
“I want them coming to their facilities and controlling the airspace, but they’re having to make decisions about how they spend their time to put food on their table,” Duffy stated.
The gridlock is beginning to affect lawmakers personally as they typically fly out of Washington most weekends to return to their home districts.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom reported that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport had suffered operating delays and air traffic control issues.
The Senate rejected a bill on Thursday that would have guaranteed pay for troops and some federal employees working without compensation.
Republicans had hoped blocking troop pay would pressure Democrats to break their united stance on the shutdown.
All but three Democrats voted against the bill, arguing it gave Trump too much control over who gets paid while offering no help for 750,000 workers on enforced leave.
Democrats maintain that the only path to reopening the government requires Trump-led negotiations over health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans.
Trump has insisted he will not negotiate with Democrats until after the shutdown ends. – AFP
