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President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary said he “cannot guarantee” flights will not be delayed or canceled as the Federal Aviation Administration grapples with staffing shortages. Amidst the ongoing government shutdown.
Thousands of flights have been delayed across the US this week, while three major airports issued ground stops on Thursday that were attributed to staffing issues as the shutdown entered its 23rd day.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said that The shutdown was impacting air traffic control, and urged controllers to “come to work” “Even if you don’t get paid.”
“I can’t guarantee you that your flight will be on time,” Duffy said at a news conference at the Capitol with House Republican leadership on Thursday. “I can’t guarantee that your flight won’t be canceled.”
About 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are required to work during the government shutdown, but they are not being paid.
Duffy said the department is “all about safety,” and thanked air traffic controllers who are coming to work without pay.
“We appreciate it. Even if you don’t get paid, still come to work,” Duffy said. “We need you to come to work. But if they don’t, we’ll know whose fault it is.”
An air traffic controller revealed last week that she is being forced to work as a DoorDash driver to pay her daughter’s tuition because of the shutdown.
The FAA said staffing problems caused delays to flights Thursday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C., LaGuardia Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Nearly 5,000 flights into or out of the US were delayed Thursday, according to the flight-tracking site, while more than 700 were canceled. flight Aware.
The president has refused to negotiate with congressional Democrats to end the shutdown.
It is now one of the longest in history, and the administration is under increasing pressure from Congress to take action on cost-of-living issues such as expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and persistently high food prices.
Democrats on Thursday blocked legislation proposed by Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) to pay some federal employees, including the military, during the shutdown, which they argued would allow the President to choose who gets paid or not.
During the shutdown, Democrats pointed out how Trump has allowed Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to determine which projects to cancel and whether to fire federal workers.