The ongoing federal government shutdown has entered its eighth day, affecting airports, travelers, federal contractors, and businesses that rely on spending by military and federal workers who are currently not receiving pay.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this week and noted a slight increase in air traffic controllers taking sick days since federal funding for their pay lapsed. Air traffic controllers are classified as essential workers and are required to work during a shutdown, even if they are not being paid.
Duffy expressed concern that if the shutdown continues, more air traffic controllers may take sick days to pursue side jobs to meet their financial needs. He warned that this could worsen staffing shortages at airport towers. “The priority was public safety, so in the event of an uptick in staffing shortages, there would be flight delays and cancellations that disrupt air travel,” Duffy said.
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration’s airspace status summary listed Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport among several major U.S. airports that could face ground delays or stoppages through the evening. The advisory did not specify the cause.
International travelers from the U.S. are also experiencing delays in obtaining passports. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has stated that previous government shutdowns resulted in a backlog of hundreds of thousands of unprocessed passport applications, which affected travelers, airlines, and tourism businesses.
Businesses that contract with the federal government have been informed that no new contracts can be awarded or modified during the shutdown. Work under existing contracts is expected to continue unless a contracting officer terminates or suspends the contract.
More than 4 million members of the U.S. military and federal workforce are not being paid during the shutdown. This lack of pay is impacting local economies, especially in areas with significant military or federal worker populations, as these individuals reduce their spending.
A letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the U.S. Senate on September 30 highlighted that the last government shutdown, which lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, led to an $11 billion reduction in U.S. economic output over the next two quarters, with $3 billion never recovered.
