The federal shutdown has deprived the nation’s air traffic controllers of full paychecks for the first time on Tuesday, which has some airlines supporting them.
Oct. 28 The federal government shutdown has deprived the nation’s air traffic controllers of full paychecks for the first time on Tuesday, which has some airlines supporting them.
Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration’s budget does not have much flexibility to enable him to transfer funds to pay essential workers, like air traffic controllers.
„The answer is open up the government“, Duffy told media during a Tuesday news conference at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., last week introduced a bill that would have provided funding for air traffic controllers, military personnel and other essential workers.
Senate Democrats mostly voted against the measure, which failed to muster the 60 votes needed to pass with a final tally of 54-45 on Thursday.
Only three Senate Democrats, John Ossof and Raphael Warnock of Georgia and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voted to approve the funding bill.
When the federal government eventually reopens, federal workers will collect back pay.
The Trump administration reviewed ways to possibly fund the more than $500 million in pay received by air traffic controllers each month, but no reserves were found, Duffy said.
