Flights to LAX were temporarily halted Sunday as the FAA cited a shortage of air traffic controllers linked to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration said flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted Sunday morning due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility.
The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed and canceled in the coming days as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.
During an appearance on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures,” Duffy said more controllers were calling in sick as money worries compound the stress of an already challenging job.
Well no he didn’t. He stated that about furloughed employees. The ones not going to work. The ones working are entitled to backpay paycheck.
Additionally, and as always, he’s talking about things he doesn’t really understand. Federal backpay for furloughed workers was codified into law. Meaning they’d have to pass a budget with a line specifying that furloughed federal works won’t get paid and nullifying the previous law. That would be quite a bad move for most congressional representatives. Almost a garuntee to lose a lot of votes.
Trump has shown a propensity to just ignore the law, and instruct those in charge of carrying out expected or required processes, to do the same. Sure, he’ll get sued, but that hasn’t even slowed him so far.
Even better. It was codified into law BY HIM and repubs.
It would also be the first time in history since the budget is done this way (since the 70s).