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Transport Secretary Shaun Duffy warned he is walking government shutdown This could result in the closure of parts of US airspace, which he estimates would lead to “mass chaos”.
Duffy said the shutdown — which is currently tied for the longest shutdown in U.S. history at 35 days — could force him to close parts of U.S. airspace as soon as next week, which would ground flights, ABC News report,
“So if, if you bring us a week from today, democrat“You will see massive chaos,” he said. “You will see massive flight delays.” You will see mass cancellations, and you may see us closing parts of the airspace because we can’t manage it because we don’t have air traffic controllers.”
Nearly half of all major air traffic control facilities already exist facing staff shortageAccording to the Federal Aviation Administration. Comptrollers are still working to keep the country running, but they’re doing so without pay like many others important government employees,
According to the FAA, approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay, but those workers would be at risk for working without compensation. About 80 percent of air traffic controllers in New York were off work on Friday, the agency said.
During an event in Philadelphia on Monday, Duffy said that controllers “have bills to pay, and they are being forced to make decisions and choices.”
“Do they go to work as air traffic controllers, or do they have to find a different job to get resources, money, to put food on their table, to put gas in their car?” He said. “And as each day passes, I think the problem will only get worse, not better.”
Duffy’s recent concern for the welfare of controllers is a contrast from the position he took earlier last month, when he told Fox News. Varney & Company He He will “let them go” If they aren’t “dedicated” to coming to work.
He has returned to that position, telling CBS. face the nation That it will not fire any controllers during the shutdown.
“They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired,” he said.
He also warned that “greater risk“For airline passengers now due to pressure on the air traffic control system.
“But with this shutdown, it would be dishonest to say there won’t be more risk to the system,” he said. “there is greater risk In the system.”
Duffy and other Republican leaders have tried to blame the shutdown on Democrats, who have refused to vote on further funding unless the Trump administration reverses its planned cuts to Americans’ health care.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats “will not support a partisan Republican spending bill that is hurting the American people’s health care.”
“This has been our position week after week, and it will continue to be our position as the Republican health care crisis continues to crush the American people,” Jeffries said in a statement Monday. “And now that we are in the midst of open enrollment, millions of Americans across the country are realizing that their premiums, co-payments and deductibles are about to skyrocket, in some cases as much as $1,000 to $2,000 more per month than working-class Americans are being asked to pay.”