Transit sec warns of ‘mass cancellations’ for air travelers if shutdown continues

“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays,” Duffy said during a press conference on Tuesday. “You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”

Over 13,000 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, and about half of all control facilities are short-staffed, according to the FAA. In the New York area, officials say nearly 80 percent of controllers have had to call out due to overwork, per the New York Post.

Unions and major airline executives have also been urging Democrats to strike a deal, warning that travel disruptions will only get worse the longer the shutdown drags on. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and Teamsters head Sean O’Brien have both called for an end to the funding standoff.

The federal shutdown, now in its second month, has also impacted food stamp programs and other federal benefits. Duffy was joined on Tuesday by Pennsylvania Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, the latter of whom is one of the few Democrats who have consistently voted to reopen the government.

Vice President JD Vance, who held an event with Duffy last week, stressed that the House has already done its part. “The House of Representatives has voted affirmatively to reopen the United States government,” Vance said. “Fifty-two Republicans and three Democrats consistently vote to reopen the United States government. But we need 60 votes.”

Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked a temporary spending bill that would keep funding at current levels until November 21, saying they want Republican concessions to extend health care subsidies that expire later this year. Those subsidies, which were expanded under President Biden and first introduced under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, have become a sticking point in negotiations.

“To their great credit, three moderate Democrats joined 52 Senate Republicans to vote to re-open the government,” Vance said. “We need five more reasonable Democrats to put the American people first and re-open the government.”