DOT chief Sean Duffy to discuss effects of government shutdown on air travel
Share and Follow


() Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to talk about how the government shutdown is affecting airports and travel as it enters a sixth day.

Duffy, along with National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels, will be at the Newark International Airport. The airport has faced a challenging year, with outages and staffing issues leading to hundreds of flights being delayed or canceled.

Air traffic controllers and TSA employees are considered essential workers and must work through the shutdown without pay until the government reopens. The worry is that with a prolonged shutdown, workers could start calling out sick, which in turn could lead to flight interruptions and long lines at checkpoints.

During the shutdown in 2018 and 2019, which lasted 35 days, workers started calling in sick after three weeks. Some air traffic controllers sued the government in an effort to get their paychecks. Miami International Airport temporarily closed one of its terminals at that time because TSA officers were calling out sick at twice the airport’s usual rate.

This recent shutdown comes at a time when there is a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers, and shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration and the TSA.

Until Congress votes to end the shutdown, some 13,000 air traffic controllers and more than 61,000 TSA workers will have to work without pay.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Jacksonville Mayor brings Bookmobile to special education school

Jacksonville Mayor Introduces Mobile Library to Special Education School

Mayor Donna Deegan’s River City Readers Bookmobile made its debut at the…
Taylor Swift was miserable writing 'Tortured Poets Department'

Taylor Swift’s Struggles While Writing ‘Tortured Poets Department’

A torturous process. Taylor Swift recently shared her varied experiences creating her…
Pope’s top diplomat blasts Israel’s Gaza offensive as ‘ongoing massacre,’ condemns Hamas attacks

Pope’s top diplomat blasts Israel’s Gaza offensive as ‘ongoing massacre,’ condemns Hamas attacks

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Vatican’s top diplomat…
Paramount acquires Bari Weiss' The Free Press, names her top editor of CBS News

Paramount Purchases Bari Weiss’ The Free Press, Appoints Her as CBS News Chief Editor

The newly formed media corporation Paramount Skydance has acquired The Free Press,…
Nashville skydiving instructor dead after falling without parachute

Nashville skydiving instructor dead after falling without parachute

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Tennessee skydiving instructor…
Teen girl found dead in D4vd's Tesla is laid to rest in secret funeral

Teenage girl discovered deceased in D4vd’s Tesla is quietly buried in a private funeral

Celeste Rivas, the teen girl who was found dead in a Tesla…
Negotiators meet in Egypt seeking Gaza ceasefire, hostage release

Diplomats Convene in Egypt to Secure Gaza Truce and Free Hostages

TEL AVIV, Israel () — Officials from Israel, Hamas and the U.S. are…
Death toll in the Israel-Hamas war passes 67,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry says

Gaza Health Ministry Reports Over 67,000 Palestinian Casualties in Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel’s military said it is preparing for the first phase of President…