An impending government shutdown has raised concerns about significant disruptions across key sectors.
The potential shutdown results from a deadlock between Republican and Democratic lawmakers over a plan to fund the federal government post-September 30.
Republicans, who hold sway in Congress, still need Democratic votes to pass a bill that would maintain government funding until November 21. For this, they require a 60-vote majority.
Senate Democrats have insisted on concessions for their support, particularly regarding healthcare. They are advocating for the reversal of Medicaid cuts and the extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Without these agreements, the situation remains at a deadlock.
With the budget deadline expiring today (September 30), federal employees face the risk of job losses or working without pay.
The aviation sector is particularly vulnerable to the effects of a government shutdown.
On September 29, US airlines cautioned that such an event could place a strain on American aviation, leading to potential flight delays, according to Reuters.
This concern arises because air traffic controllers and security officers may have to work without their salaries.
The Airline Trade Group, Airlines for America, includes major carriers like United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. They have voiced apprehensions about the shutdown’s impact.
While they don’t foresee a complete shutdown, they warned that if funding lapses, “the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency,” affecting travelers.
The group further stated: “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.”
About 50,000 employees from the Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control are among those expected to work without compensation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that a shutdown might also impede air traffic training and modernization efforts.
President Donald Trump, addressing reporters on Friday, September 26, remarked on the looming shutdown: “If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down.”
He blamed Democrats for the gridlock, stating they were ‘shutting down the government’.
Trump also called off a meeting with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, expressing on social media: “I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
Schumer mentioned on Tuesday that Republicans have “until midnight tonight to get serious with us about solving this crisis and keep the government open.”
He criticized Trump’s approach, describing it as ‘scare’ tactics, particularly in the context of firing federal workers through his collaboration with Elon Musk’s DOGE venture, commenting: “This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government.”