American travelers are being cautioned to expect significant disruptions as they prepare for Thanksgiving journeys amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concerns on CNN with Jake Tapper, predicting that a considerable number of citizens might miss their holiday flights due to a severe shortage of air traffic controllers.
During a State of the Union segment on Sunday morning, Duffy revealed, “Yesterday, between 18 and 22 controllers were absent in Atlanta. Nationwide, we faced 81 staffing shortage ‘triggers’ in our airspace,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.
He further explained, “This absence of controllers is a growing issue. As we approach the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, expect air travel to dwindle significantly.”
Airports are anticipated to be crowded with travelers eager to reunite with family, but many may face unexpected setbacks.
Duffy warned, “Without reopening, the number of flights will drastically decrease. Controllers are forced to choose between work and providing for their families.”
Major delays continue to plague US airports as the record-breaking government shutdown enters its 40th day.
Thousands of flights have been impacted by the federal labor shortages, sparking travel misery across the country as the holiday season approaches.
Airports have been experiencing overcrowding and delays as a result of staffing shortages. Pictured: the TSA line a O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Friday
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (right) told CNN ‘s Jake Tapper (left) that a ‘substantial’ number of Americans will likely miss their flights home for Thanksgiving
At least 1,181 flights, both arriving and departing the US, were canceled and 871 have been delayed on Sunday, according to tracking website FlightAware.
The lengthy government shutdown is the result of a dispute over funding allocations between Congress Democrats and Republicans.
This failure to reach an agreement about the federal budget has also impacted food assistance for millions of Americans and left 1.4 million federal workers, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, without pay.
With no end to the Senate stalemate in sight, travel chaos is likely to worsen in the coming weeks if lawmakers cannot settle on an agreement to end the shutdown.
More than 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 TSA agents have been required to work without pay since October 1.
In turn, fewer of these essential federal employees have been showing up for work.
Before the shutdown, the FAA was already grappling with a perpetual shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
Duffy spoke about the delays last week, blaming Democrats for the stalemate.
Major delays are still plaguing US airports as the government shutdown continues. Pictured: A flier looks at departures at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on Friday
‘I’ve been talking to air traffic controllers and there really is frustration. There’s a shutdown right now, the democrats are focusing on illegal healthcare,’ he told ABC News.
‘They don’t get paid as air traffic controllers. Those are burning frustrations, like in the rest of the country.’
Duffy added that ‘safety is his top priority’ and the administration will ‘delay’ and ‘cancel any kind of flight across the national airspace to make sure people are safe.’
‘There is a level of risk when we have a controller doing two jobs instead of one. We manage and look out for it,’ he said.
On October 31, nearly half of the country’s 30 busiest airports faced severe air traffic controller shortages, resulting in over 6,200 flight delays and 500 cancellations – the worst air travel day since the shutdown began.
While Duffy said last month that TSA workers and air traffic controllers risked losing their jobs by not going into work during the shutdown, he has since taken a more sympathetic stance.
While speaking with CBS, he said: ‘When they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers.
‘They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.’
Duffy warned that many Americans may miss their flights for Thanksgiving. Pictured: American Airlines planes at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday
Duffy had also acknowledged that the shutdown ‘adds more risk’ to the air travel system, although they are ‘always managing that.’
Along with delays, lines and missed flights, these labor shortages have amplified air travel safety concerns.
On October 30, a Delta jet attempting to land in Boston nearly collided with a Cape Air plane taking off from the intersecting runway.
‘What the heck?’ The Cape Air pilot was heard asking, according to a FlightAware.com transmission.
‘Heavy, that was close,’ the Delta pilot replied, after noting that the plane had returned to an altitude of 3,000 feet.
‘Yeah, man. Not cool,’ the Cape Air pilot responded in disbelief.
The Delta flight ultimately landed safely and no one was harmed. The FAA is investigating.
The government shutdown began on October 1, when Republicans and Democrats could not agree to pass a bill funding federal services for the coming months.
Airport delays have no end in sight as the government shutdown has left tens of thousands of TSA agents and air traffic controllers with no pay. Pictured: Passengers on the security line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas
The expiring Obamacare subsidies are a key issue. Democrats want the bill to include an extension of expiring tax credits, which make health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans, and an increase in Medicaid funding.
Minority Leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, has repeatedly stated that the Democratic Party is willing to negotiate an end to the shutdown if Republicans come to the table and discuss extending subsidies.
But Republicans said they want to negotiate the health insurance subsidies separately.
Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate and need Democratic votes to pass any funding deal.
President Donald Trump has warned that he will initiate mass layoffs of federal workers if negotiations continue to stall.
