FAA reports ground stop at LAX due to ATC staff shortage.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern over the coming lapse of air traffic control student stipends due to the government shutdown. Some students are planning to drop out of the academy as the stipends are due to end.
“This shutdown is making it more difficult for me to accomplish those [hiring] goals,” Secretary Duffy said. “We tried to plan for this. We tried to preserve as much money as possible. … When we have new controllers that are being trained up, they don’t make a lot of money, and that’s the base pay they get, and they’re having a hard time making ends meet on the pay itself.”
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport last weekend due to air traffic control staff shortages. The FAA reported shortages at six U.S. airports on Sunday due to the lapse of government funding. Flight disruptions are expected to continue as federal employees are furloughed and those who do work are not getting paid.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Duffy and U.S. transportation officials as they assess the impact of the government shutdown on the air traffic control shortage.
- For members of the Senate as they continue to deliberate the continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government.
- For the nation’s air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the shutdown.
Sources: Roll Call, OANN
