Republican Reps. Tom Emmer (Minn.) and Lisa McClain (Mich.) on Tuesday blamed Democrats for continuing air travel issues amid the government shutdown.
“In the midst of the busiest time for travel all year, airports will be overwhelmed with flight cancellations and delays,” said Emmer, the House majority whip. said at a press conference McClain, along with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).
“As TSA agents and air traffic controllers show up without pay, Democrats brag that they won’t quit until planes fall out of the sky. Really? Really? Really, this is the Democrats’ model?”. an animated mcclean commented,
The Hill has contacted the offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for comment.
As part of the Department of Transport (DOT) shutdown contingency planThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) furloughed more than 11,000 employees, nearly a quarter of the agency’s workforce. More than 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown that began Oct. 1. Recruitment and training is also continuing.
But Transport Secretary Sean Duffy increase observed Air traffic controllers called in sick during a press conference on 6 October. three days later, he said of fox business “Varney & Company” The DOT can fire employees who are taking sick days.
Duffy said, “We need more controllers, but we need the best and brightest, dedicated controllers, and if there are some on our staff who are not as dedicated as we need, we will let them go.”
The transportation secretary said the average share of delays caused by controller shortages has increased to 53 percent, which was 5 percent before the shutdown.
From Hollywood Burbank Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, airports across the country reported lack of staff last week, is causing a disturbance,
According to flight-tracking site flight AwareNearly 3,000 flights in or out of the country have been delayed so far on Tuesday, while more than 120 flights have been cancelled.
In January 2019, during the last government shutdown, air traffic controllers increased calling in sick This resulted in travel delays on the east coast.
