This request cannot be fulfilled. The provided text details US migrant deportations to Eswatini, not US arms exports to Europe. Rewriting the article about US arms exports to Europe while preserving the facts from the given text is unfeasible and would constitute fabrication. The core mission is contradictory to the source material.
WASHINGTON – More than 2,500 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled over the weekend as a partial government shutdown entered its third day, disrupting travel plans for thousands and raising concerns about broader economic impacts. The cancellations, primarily affecting flights on Friday and Saturday, stemmed from increased air traffic control delays and staffing concerns, though longer international flights have so far remained uninterrupted.
The disruptions highlight the vulnerability of the nation’s air travel system to government shutdowns.While airlines were largely able to reschedule flights impacted on Friday, uncertainty remains regarding future cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is operating with a reduced workforce, leading to slowdowns and impacting flight schedules.
Heather Xu, 46, found herself stranded in Miami after a cruise while attempting to return to Puerto Rico. “Travel is stressful enough,” she said. “then you put these disruptions in place, and it really makes everything more challenging.”
Rental car companies reported a surge in one-way reservations Friday, and some travelers opted to cancel flights altogether. Diana Alvear of Bridgewater, New Jersey, canceled her family’s planned trip to California next weekend, citing worries about flying with understaffed and overworked air traffic controllers. United Airlines provided a credit for the airfare, but Alvear’s family still faces a $700 loss on a non-refundable Airbnb deposit. “This has been costly to us, and it’s a huge disappointment for us and our family,” she stated. “It’s really weighing on our hearts that we had to do this.”
Beyond passenger travel, the disruptions could lead to higher prices for goods as nearly half of U.S. air freight is transported in the cargo holds of passenger planes. patrick Penfield, a professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University, warned that increased shipping costs could be passed on to consumers.
Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, emphasized the wider economic consequences. “this shutdown is going to impact everything from cargo aircraft to people getting to business meetings to tourists being able to travel,” Raiff said. “It’s going to hit the hotel taxes and city taxes. There’s a cascading effect that results from this thing.”
Flight Reductions Loom at Roughly 40 US airports Amid Ongoing Shutdown
WASHINGTON (January 9, 2019) - Approximately 40 U.S. airports are bracing for flight reductions as the government shutdown continues to strain the federal Aviation Management (FAA), officials announced Wednesday. the cuts are intended to proactively manage potential disruptions caused by staffing shortages stemming from the ongoing lapse in funding.
FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell stated the agency is directing airlines to prepare for reductions, but advised, ”ignore it,” adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and bedford announced plans to meet wiht airline executives Wednesday to determine how to safely implement the reductions.
The shutdown,which on Wednesday became the longest on record,is placing “unnecessary strain on the system and ‘forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,'” according to U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman.
Duffy warned Tuesday that prolonged disruption could lead to “chaos in the skies” if air traffic controllers miss a second full paycheck next week, noting some controllers are already struggling to afford transportation to work.
An Associated Press analysis of operations plans revealed at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits from Friday to Sunday evening. This is a significant increase compared to the average of 8.3 facilities reporting potential staffing issues on weekends from January 1 to September 30, which rose to an average of 26.2 facilities during the five weekend periods since the shutdown began.
While staffing shortages have previously caused isolated and temporary delays, the past weekend marked some of the most significant staffing issues since the shutdown’s start.
I am sorry, but the provided text does not contain any facts about ICE officers storming a daycare center or any related incident. It focuses on:
* russia potentially resuming nuclear weapons testing.
* An Israeli minister urging Jewish New Yorkers to emigrate to Israel following a mayoral election in New York.
* The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York and his controversial statements regarding israel and the Gaza Strip.
Therefore,I cannot fulfill your request to rewrite the text into a news report about ICE raiding a daycare,as that event is not present in the source material. I can only work with the information given.
If you provide a different text containing details about the ICE raid, I will be happy to rewrite it as requested, ensuring factual accuracy and a breaking-news style.
The nomination for NASA administrator is currently embroiled in a contentious political struggle between Jared Isaacman and Pete Duffy, with the future direction of the agency hanging in the balance. While Isaacman has regained momentum as the leading candidate after initially losing his nomination,Transportation Secretary Duffy is reportedly vying for the permanent position himself.
The situation began in May when former President Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination, citing concerns about the billionaire’s past donations to Democratic campaigns and his close relationship with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.Duffy was later appointed as acting NASA administrator in July.
A key element of the current conflict revolves around a document known as the “Athena papers,” outlining Isaacman’s vision for NASA. After editing the original draft down to 62 pages, Isaacman’s team provided copies to Duffy and his chief of staff, Pete Meachum, in August. Sources suggest these were the onyl copies distributed, leading to speculation – and accusations – that the recent leak of the document originated within Duffy’s office.
Further complicating matters,two sources have alleged that Duffy shared the Athena papers with established space contractors in an attempt to garner support for his own permanent appointment. While gizmodo has not independently confirmed this claim, CNN reports duffy has privately expressed a desire to remain at the helm of NASA, even suggesting a potential integration of the agency into the Department of Transportation. NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens has denied these assertions, stating Duffy has never publicly indicated a desire to keep the job.
Isaacman remains a notable threat to duffy’s ambitions. Despite the initial setback, he has secured backing from several lawmakers and recently met with Trump to discuss a potential re-nomination, according to sources.
A Radical Restructuring Proposed
The Athena papers detail a sweeping overhaul of NASA’s operations, aiming to run the agency more along the lines of a business.A central tenet of Isaacman’s plan is increased reliance on the commercial space industry.This shift would significantly impact NASA’s scientific endeavors, with proposals to purchase data from commercial companies rather than launching dedicated agency satellites. Moreover, Isaacman suggests removing NASA from taxpayer-funded climate science, leaving such research to academic institutions.
The plan also calls for the cancellation of the Gateway lunar space station and the Space Launch System (SLS) - both crucial components of the current Artemis program – after just two additional missions. This aligns with proposed cuts outlined in Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for NASA.
Beyond program changes, the Athena document proposes a comprehensive internal reorganization, including a review of the “relevance and ongoing necessity” of every NASA center.It advocates for consolidating mission control at the Johnson Space Center in Texas and a thorough evaluation of the purpose of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
While some observers agree that NASA requires significant reform, others argue that Isaacman’s proposals demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the complexities of scientific funding and government operations.
The re-emergence of the Athena document’s contents could have a dual impact on Isaacman’s prospects. While the proposed changes threaten the interests of legacy space contractors and have drawn criticism from within the NASA community, the alignment with Trump’s budget priorities could bolster his standing with the president.Ultimately, the future of NASA’s leadership - and its direction – remains uncertain.
WASHINGTON – Travelers are facing increasing flight delays and cancellations at U.S. airports as a pre-existing shortage of air traffic controllers is compounded by the ongoing impact of the recent government shutdown and financial strain on FAA personnel.While July saw approximately 69% of flights on time and 2.5% canceled, disruptions are becoming more frequent as controllers work without pay.
The issues extend beyond the shutdown’s direct impact. The Federal Aviation Administration was already grappling with a shortage of roughly 3,000 air traffic controllers before the recent political impasse. This existing vulnerability is now exacerbated by controllers facing financial hardship, leading to potential staffing gaps.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned of escalating disruptions, stating, “We work overtime to make sure the system is safe. And we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to make sure the system is safe,” during a recent appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
Duffy also indicated he will not pursue firing controllers who are unable to work without a paycheck, saying, “Again when they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers. They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.” This stance represents a shift from earlier statements in October, where Duffy cautioned that controllers calling out sick rather of working without pay risked termination.
The FAA reported Friday that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks. While staffing shortages can occur in both regional control centers and airport towers, October flight data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed generally strong on-time performance at major U.S. airports, despite isolated staffing problems.
The situation highlights the critical need to address the long-term staffing challenges within the FAA and the potential for important travel disruptions when controllers are placed under financial pressure.
