DOT announces significant air traffic cuts as shutdown drags on

The Trump administration is rolling out sweeping air traffic reductions as the ongoing government shutdown takes its toll on federal employees working without pay.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be temporarily cutting air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports across the country, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced during a Wednesday press conference. The drastic move is in response to the continuing government shutdown, now the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, which has placed increasing strain on the air traffic controllers and other federal employees who’ve been left to work without a paycheck.

Duffy spoke about how many air traffic controllers are missing work and taking on side hustles to provide for their families.

“And what we’re finding is that our air traffic controllers, because of the financial pressures at home, are taking side jobs — they need to put food on the table, gas in the car, pay their bills,” the DOT secretary said. “We have asked them to show up for work, but I’m not naive enough to understand that they’re trying to figure out how they meet their daily obligations.”

“This is not based on what airline travels has more flights out of what location,” Duffy said after announcing the sweeping reductions in capacity. “This is about where is the pressure, and how do we alleviate the pressure?”

Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain deadlocked on a federal funding compromise, with the debate largely revolving around healthcare subsidies within Obamacare and coverage for illegal migrants. The shutdown on Wednesday entered its 36th day, officially making it the longest shutdown in the country’s history — and leaving many federal employees without compensation.

Duffy on Tuesday warned of “mass chaos” in the skies if the shutdown continues, with airports in recent days experiencing some of the worst staff shortages.

“We have decided that a 10% reduction in schedule capacity would be appropriate to again, continue to take the pressure off of our controllers, and as we continue to see staffing triggers, there will be additional measures that will be taken in those specific markets,” Federal Aviation Administration chief Bryan Bedford said Wednesday alongside Duffy.

Airports that will be hit with reductions were not immediately specified. Duffy and Bedford said the plan will begin on Friday.

“But I also want to recognize the fact that the data is telling us we need to do more, and we are going to do more, and I want to reassure the American travelers that it is absolutely safe to fly in the American skies,” Bedford said.

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