Journalism of Courage
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said that several US airports were facing delays in arrival and departure of flights, including Newark and Denver on Monday amid the US government shutdown. A top US transportation official said air traffic controllers have been calling in sick and such cases have been rising since the government shutdown began, Reuters reported.
A report stated that about 13,000 air traffic controllers and some 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers would still need to show up for work as the US government shutdown persists and the officials are not being paid, as they are all set to miss their salary on October 14.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that air traffic staffing has been reduced by 50% in some regions since the government shutdown began last week. The air traffic control staffing issue has been impacting flights at numerous airports in the United States, including Newark, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Burbank, the FAA said.
Flight tracking website FlightAware said that over 4,000 flights in the United States have been delayed on Monday, including 29% arriving flights at Denver, 19% of Newark flights and 15% of Las Vegas flights. Flight delays are being caused due to staffing issues as shutdown persists and weather is also impacting flights in America.
President Donald Trump has made transportation a focal point in the government shutdown battle with the Democrats, as the administration cut down $28 billion of aid for climate programs, subways, tunnels and mass transit in states that lean toward Democratic party, including New York, Illinois.
Transportation Secretary Duffy noted that air traffic controllers are worried. Duffy said, “They’re thinking about, am I going to get a paycheck? adding that some are asking themselves, “Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful?”
(with inputs from Reuters)
