(NewsNation) — As the government shutdown enters its sixth week, airports across the U.S. are increasingly suffering from the stalemate.
As the impasse between Democrats and Republicans drags on, shortages of air traffic controllers have played a role in flight delays and cancellations.
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport has continued experiencing delays of two to three hours. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas also issued a ground delay with an average wait of 40 minutes.
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The Federal Aviation Administration said 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay, and many are under immense stress, pressure and fatigue.
“It’s just a shame. I mean, the controllers are overworked and underpaid,” Tammy Johnson, a retired air traffic controller, told NewsNation. “When it happened six years ago, I was one of the controllers that had to work with no pay.
“It’s just it’s just an absolute shame, and to call in sick because they’re just they’re mentally exhausted.”
Earlier in October, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had warned air traffic controllers who had called in sick instead of working without a paycheck during the shutdown risked being fired.
The FAA responded to Duffy, saying, “We continue to reiterate we will never compromise on safety when staffing shortages occur. The FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.”
