The US government shutdown is starting to cause the absence of air traffic controllers at some of the country’s airports, a situation that, if prolonged, could lead to flight disruptions, warned Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
During a press conference at Newark Airport (New Jersey), which serves New York, Duffy said that there has been an “increase in calls” from controllers not showing up to work, citing “illness”.
During the government shutdown, which reached six days on Monday, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, are working without pay.
According to the secretary, the first immediate effect could be a reduction in the number of daily flights operating in the United States.
Additionally, if the shutdown continues, a program providing subsidies for local travel to rural areas across the country, such as Alaska, will run out of funds by next Sunday, Duffy added.
During the last US government shutdown in 2019, widespread delays at the country’s airports pressured Congress and then-President Trump, in his first term, to reach a deal with Democrats to reopen the government after 35 days of closure.
Monday’s Senate attempt to reach an agreement to fund the government failed. Democrats are demanding increased healthcare funding, but Republicans, without evidence, accuse them of wanting to provide health benefits to undocumented immigrants.
Image: DiarioNY
