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FAA delays flights on third day of government shutdown

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delayed flights at several airports, including Reagan Washington National Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday as it continued to experience higher than normal staffing shortages.

By 5:30 p.m., there were almost 3,000 delays. After 10,000 delays on Monday and Tuesday, thousands of them were due to the FAA slowing down flights as a result of the absences of air traffic control at various facilities throughout the country. The government shutdown is now in its eighth day.

The FAA reported that some flights were forced to be held in the air because of a slowdown in traffic.

In the past, staffing problems in our towers have been responsible for about 5% delays. Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary for Transportation, said that the number of delays was 53% in the last two days on Fox News "Will Cain Show." "My message to air traffic controllers working for DOT, show up to work. You have a job."

The air traffic control staffing problems during this shutdown are more severe than during the last major stoppage of government funding in 2019. That was during President Donald Trump's initial term. This has led to unexpected shortages across the country.

Duffy stated that "the bottom line is that these controllers are stressed and they are rebelling against this shutdown, because they might not get paid."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, along with congressional Democrats, called on Wednesday for an end to the airport shutdown at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. They noted that air traffic control officers and Transportation Security Administration agents are working without being paid. Moore, a Democrat from Maryland, stated that President Trump was unable to "close a deal" in order to keep the federal government open.

Kwiesi mfume (Democrat) called for supplemental legislation to continue paying air traffic controllers in the event of a shutdown.

He said, "People are starting to be concerned about flying now and as a country we should never reach that point."

During a 35-day government shutdown in 2019, the number of controllers and TSA agents absent increased as they missed paychecks. This led to longer waits at checkpoints. The authorities were forced to reduce air traffic in New York. This put pressure on legislators to end the standoff quickly.

They are not paid. During the shutdown of the federal government, 13,000 air traffic control officers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers still have to report for work. The controllers will receive a partial pay on October 14, for work done before the shutdown.

Moore stated, "Our BWI employees are still here." Moore said, "They do it because they are patriots." They do it because they are patriots.

Duffy also said that USDOT secured $41million to fund the Essential Air Service Program until early November. Alaska Airlines, for example, had promised to continue subsidised flights to remote or rural areas after USDOT warned that they may not be reimbursed as of next week.

Air traffic control shortages have plagued the U.S. for over a decade. Many controllers were already working six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime before the shutdown. About 3,500 air traffic control positions are not enough to meet the FAA's target staffing levels.

(source: Reuters)