In the United States, major airports are experiencing delays for a second consecutive day due to staffing issues caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown. According to flight tracking data, over 3,000 flights have been delayed at airports such as Houston, Nashville, Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, and Newark.
Despite not receiving pay during the shutdown, air traffic controllers are expected to show up for work. However, they will receive partial pay next week for their work prior to the shutdown, which began on October 1st. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on Monday that the Federal Aviation Administration has seen an increase in sick leave among controllers, resulting in a 50% decrease in air traffic staffing in some regions.
On Tuesday, Mr.Duffy appeared on Fox News’ Fox and Friends to address the issue, stating that if there are not enough controllers, traffic would be slowed down to ensure the safety of airspace. However, travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt warned of potential impacts to the aviation system as federal workers in critical roles continue to work without pay. He stated that the longer the shutdown continues, the more likely it is to disrupt holiday travel plans in November, potentially ruining millions of Americans’ Thanksgiving holidays.
FlightAware, a flight tracking website, reported over 3,000 delayed flights in the US on Tuesday, with Nashville experiencing 225 delays, which is 20% of its flights, and Chicago O’Hare experiencing over 570 delays, which is more than 20% of its flights. Major airlines such as Southwest and American have also been affected, with over 500 and 400 delayed flights respectively.
The ongoing shutdown has caused both Republicans and Democrats to point fingers at each other. Congress failed to come to an agreement on short-term legislation to fund the government, with Democrats demanding that any funding measure include an extension of health insurance tax credits and reversal of President Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid. Republicans, on the other hand, have accused Democrats of wanting to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants. The longer the government remains shut down, the more likely it is to disrupt and impact the lives of Americans.