Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy gives update on government shutdown at LaGuardia Airport
Officials said the government shutdown is resulting in major staffing shortages.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Nick Daniels, president of NATCA and federal workers spoke at LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday about the government shutdown and its impact on federal workers.
"They keep America safe. They keep America moving. Today, air traffic controllers showed up to see zero dollars in their paycheck," said Daniels.
Oct. 28 is the first day air traffic controllers would not receive a paycheck.
"How would you feel if you weren't getting paychecks now? Put that on top of an extremely stressful job," said Joe Segretto, air traffic controller for NATCA.
Segretto said his colleagues now have to make major sacrifices with no income coming in.
"As the days go on, it gets worse and worse and worse," said Segretto.
Officials said the government shutdown is resulting in major staffing shortages.
Duffy said 44% of flight delays nationwide on Oct. 25 were directly connected to the gap in staffing. That number dropped to 24% the following day.
"Coming in last week we had to fly up in the air about 50 minutes before we could land," said a traveler named Randy.
Another traveler expressed her concerns for the federal workers.
"It bothers me to think that people are working without pay because how are they paying their bills or feeding their families?" said Heidi.
This is the second longest government shutdown in the nation's history.
Air traffic controllers and TSA workers will continue to work unpaid until the government reopens.
