Thousands of flights may be cancelled if the federal government does not reopen this week, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced today.
Sec. Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration will reduce 10 percent of air traffic at 40 airports to keep things running as smoothly as possible and safe for travelers.
A list of airports impacted is expected on Thursday.
Duffy told “Face the Nation” on Sunday that problems have been reported in Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, Boston and Atlanta. There have also been reports of major delays in New York.
“I think it’s only going to get worse,” Duffy said.
Air traffic controllers, considered essential employees, will miss their second full paycheck next week if a compromise isn’t made to reopen the government and resume pay to federal employees. Roughly 1.4 million federal employees are not being paid.
“They don’t make a lot of money, and they’re now confronted. They haven’t had a paycheck for over a month. They’re confronted with a decision. Do I put food on my kids’ table? Do I put gas in the car? Do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid?
“They’re making decisions. I’ve encouraged them all to come to work. I want them to come to work, but they’re making life decisions that they shouldn’t have to make.
“Let’s open the government up. Let’s pay these people,” he said.
Some controllers are being forced to take second jobs or have called in sick to protest.
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Furloughed workers and “excepted” government employees who must work during a shutdown without compensation are entitled to back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019.
President Donald Trump has put doubt in the mind of some furloughed workers with a recent statement: “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about.”
Legal experts insist that if the matter goes before a judge, the federal government will have to pay employees based on the legislation.
Members of Congress continue to receive their paychecks during a government shutdown. This has been the longest shutdown in U.S. history at 36 days.
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Crystal Graham
