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Speaker Johnson Considering Legislation to Pay Air Traffic Controllers, Military During Shutdown
The FAA said staffing shortages ‘across the system’ were forcing traffic slowdowns at multiple airports to ensure safety.
An air traffic control tower at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on July 1, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Jacob Burg
10/7/2025|Updated: 10/7/2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Oct. 7 that he is open to passing legislation during the government shutdown that ensures military members and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers don’t miss their next paychecks.
Johnson spoke with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, where the House speaker was asked if he was open to the idea of paying the military and air traffic controllers as an emergency measure in the next week or two while the government is shut down.
“We’re monitoring that day by day. I’m certainly open to that. We’ve done it in the past. We want to make sure our troops are paid,” Johnson said.
“I have colleagues like Congresswoman Jim Higgins (R) of Virginia, who has a big military district. He’s already filed legislation to pay our troops. We’re looking forward to processing all this as soon as we gather everybody back up.”
Johnson’s comments come one day after the FAA said staffing shortages “across the system” were forcing the agency to slow traffic at multiple airports to ensure safety as the shutdown continues.
On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy gave a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport, where he said the number of air traffic controllers calling in sick had risen slightly since the government shutdown began last week.
“You'll see delays come from that,” said Duffy, who was joined by Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a union that represents nearly 20,000 air traffic controllers.
The FAA confirmed the staffing issues in a statement.
“As Secretary Duffy said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations,” the flight administration said, adding that real-time flight impacts can be found at fly.faa.gov.
There are more than 14,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in the United States, all of whom must still work during the government shutdown.
The workers are currently not being paid, and Duffy said the controllers are slated to miss their first paycheck on Oct. 14 if the shutdown doesn’t end.
“Some areas, there’s been a 50 percent reduction in some of the staffing,” Duffy said.
Air traffic control staffing issues impacted flights at numerous U.S. airports on Oct. 6, including Burbank, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, and Newark.
On Oct. 7, the FAA’s National Airspace System Status website showed multiple airport closures, including in Las Vegas and Daytona Beach, and ground closures in Nashville and Boston.
Flight tracker website FlightAware also confirmed delays at Nashville and Boston, with more than 2,000 delays nationwide.
Roughly 55 percent of those delays impact flights leaving or entering Chicago O'Hare International Airport, with 30 percent impacting Boston Logan International Airport.
On Monday, Duffy said controllers are worried about getting their next paycheck and asking themselves, “Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful?”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association warned its workers on its website on Monday that “participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service,” and that it is illegal.
“At this critical juncture, it is more important than ever that we rise to the occasion and continue delivering the consistent, high-level of public service we provide every day,” the union told members.
“We cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our professions.”
Airlines for America, a trade group that represents United, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, warned on Oct. 1 that during the government shutdown, “the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency.”
“When federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft, and secure our nation’s aviation system are furloughed or working without pay, the entire industry and millions of Americans feel the strain,” the group wrote.
“We appreciate the men and women going to work, despite not receiving a paycheck, to ensure the safety and security of the traveling and shipping public.”
During the 35-day government shutdown that began in December 2018, “numerous FAA functions” ceased or were suspended, and impacts were also felt at Customs and Border Protection, according to the National Business Aviation Association.
Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote on social media at the time that the shutdown was “pushing our airspace to the breaking point.”
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From The Epoch Times
Link:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/hou...ner&src_cmp=gp
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