California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Donald Trump amidst anticipated travel disruptions in Los Angeles due to the government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Authority announced on Monday that air traffic control towers at Hollywood Burbank Airport would be unstaffed until at least 10pm local time.
Newsom blamed the lack of staffing on the government shutdown and hammered Trump on X.
“Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” the California governor expressed.
The White House, when asked for comment by The Daily Mail, sent an automatic reply putting responsibility for the shutdown on Democrats.
‘Due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown, the typical 24/7 monitoring of this press inbox may experience delays,’ it read.
“As you await a response, please remember this could have been avoided if the Democrats voted for the clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open.”
In the absence of on-site air traffic controllers, TRACON, a team based in San Diego that manages a significant portion of Burbank’s air traffic, will oversee the airport’s arrivals and departures.
The image caption reiterates Governor Newsom’s criticism of President Trump as travelers in Los Angeles face potential chaos and flight delays due to the shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Authority on Monday warned air traffic control towers at Hollywood Burbank Airport would be unmanned until at least 10pm local time
The FAA told ABC7 that it was working to get staffers to the airport before 10pm local time.
However, for the time being, the Burbank Airport air traffic tower is not being manned by anyone.
Airports in both Denver and Newark were also experiencing ground delays due to staffing shortages, The New York Times reported.
Denver International Airport currently faces delays of about 40 minutes, while Newark Liberty International Airport is close to an hour.
It’s unclear how long staffing issues would affect schedules or how many employees have left their post.
The government shutdown is currently in its sixth day with no sign of a resolution in the Senate.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the government shutdown is putting more stress on air traffic controllers who already have an extremely stressful job, as well as threatening a program that small communities rely on to help subsidize airline service.
Controllers are expected to continue working without a paycheck, Duffy said, so they are now worried about how to pay their bills in addition to worrying about keeping flights safe.
‘Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,’ the California governor wrote
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the government shutdown is putting more stress on air traffic controllers who already have an extremely stressful job, as well as threatening a program that small communities rely on to help subsidize airline service
‘Now what they think about as they´re controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table? I´m working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck?’ Duffy said.
The Transportation Department has been able to keep the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City open for now with funding from previous years, but Duffy is still concerned about the potential impact on efforts to hire and train new controllers in the hope of eliminating a longstanding shortage.
Duffy said the support staff who train controllers after they come out of the academy could be laid off.
The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, stayed away from political comments, but he urged Congress to end the shutdown.
‘We need to bring this shutdown to a close, so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us, and completely focus on their vital work,’ Daniels said.
Duffy said there has already been a small uptick in controllers calling out sick in a few places.
If that gets worse as the shutdown drags on, the FAA could be forced to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings, which would create delays and possibly cancellations.
The Essential Air Service program that subsidizes airline service to small communities across the country will also quickly run out of money.
Duffy said that program enjoys strong bipartisan support and provides an important lifeline to many small communities.
It is especially important in Alaska, where flying is the only way to travel between many communities.
‘That money runs out this Sunday. So there´s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community,’ Duffy said.
