U.S. airways and aviation teams are warning Congress {that a} authorities shutdown at midnight would disrupt air journey, jeopardize security and stall efforts to modernize the nation’s air visitors management system.
The warning got here in a letter from the Fashionable Skies Coalition — which incorporates Airways for America, the commerce group for United, Delta, American, Southwest and different carriers — together with airports, pilots, controllers and producers. The coalition stated a shutdown would power the FAA to droop hiring and coaching, delay security initiatives and create expensive backlogs throughout the aviation system.
“Government shutdowns harm the U.S. economy and degrade the redundancies and margins of safety that our National Airspace System (NAS) is built upon,” the group wrote. “In fact, short-term shutdowns of just a few days, or even threatened shutdowns that are averted in the eleventh hour negatively affect the NAS and the traveling public.”
The letter additionally underscored the broader financial threat, noting that the U.S. aviation trade contributes greater than 5% of GDP — $1.37 trillion in 2023 — and helps over 10 million jobs. The group stated {that a} 35-day shutdown in 2018–19 alone price the financial system $3 billion in misplaced exercise that was by no means recovered, based on the Congressional Funds Workplace.
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U.S. airways and aviation teams are warning Congress {that a} authorities shutdown at midnight would disrupt air journey, jeopardize security and stall efforts to modernize the nation’s air visitors management system. (John Greim/Loop Pictures/Common Pictures Group by way of Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
The coalition warned {that a} shutdown would freeze FAA hiring and coaching. Throughout earlier shutdowns, the company was pressured to shut its coaching academy in Oklahoma Metropolis, a transfer that worsened staffing shortages as soon as operations resumed.
The FAA is about 3,800 air visitors controllers wanting its focused staffing ranges, and the Fashionable Skies Coalition stated it has supported Transport Secretary Sean Duffy’s transfer to extend numbers.
U.S. airways and aviation teams are warning Congress {that a} authorities shutdown at midnight would disrupt air journey and jeopardize security. (Kevin Carter/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
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“We strongly supported Congress’s $12.5 billion downpayment toward air traffic control modernization, and we continue to advocate in support of Secretary Duffy’s acknowledgment that additional funding of at least $19 billion will be needed to completely build a new air traffic control system,” the letter stated. “A government shutdown at this stage would jeopardize the important progress that we all have made on these efforts thus far.”
Home Republicans superior a short-term funding plan, however the Senate rejected it, citing the dearth of well being care subsidy extensions and spending cuts opposed by Democrats. Negotiations between the events stay stalled.
On Monday, Republican and Democratic leaders left a gathering with President Donald Trump with out an settlement to maintain the federal government funded, elevating the chance of a partial shutdown set to start at midnight tonight.
The FAA is about 3,800 controllers wanting its focused staffing ranges and the Fashionable Skies Coalition stated it has supported Transport Secretary Sean Duffy’s transfer to extend numbers. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg / Getty Pictures)
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The hourlong White Home session produced no breakthrough, with each side refusing to shift from their positions.
