US Flights Disrupted as Government Shutdown Impacts Air Travel
WASHINGTON – Flights across the United States are facing cancellations and delays as the ongoing government shutdown leaves air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay, raising concerns about safety and travel disruptions. Ndenisarya Meekins and her daughter, Sara, experienced this firsthand when their flight from Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) to New York was cancelled, jeopardizing a planned mother-daughter trip including tickets to stage shows.
The shutdown, stemming from a lapse in federal funding, is creating a ripple effect throughout the travel system. While Meekins was able to rebook with a different airline after an anxious search, many travelers face uncertainty and potential disruptions. The situation highlights the immediate impact of the shutdown on essential transportation services and the workers who maintain them.
“It’s a special day for us to be up ther, and we have a lot of plans in New York, so it would have been a little bit of a catastrophe if we weren’t able to make it up,” Meekins said at DCA. She also expressed concern about the broader implications of the shutdown, stating, “We’re trusting that we have what we need to be safe…You think about these folks that have been working also without pay. We’re going to go through security right now, and these are TSA agents who have been going through this process without pay and your heart goes out to them.”
The shutdown is also impacting educational opportunities. For Sara, the funding lapse has already disrupted her school year, leading to the closure of all Smithsonian museums and the cancellation of planned educational field trips.”which has been really disappointing, it’s pretty upsetting,” she said.
The Federal Aviation Governance (FAA) has stated it is prioritizing safety, but the lack of pay for critical personnel is raising anxieties among travelers and within the industry. The situation remains fluid,with potential for further disruptions as the shutdown continues.
