1,300 federal employees at SFO are working without pay amid government shutdown

"Since Oct. 1, workers employed by the federal government, including those at the Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard, the FBI and federal air marshals, have all been reporting to work without the immediate promise of a paycheck. "Federal employees are vital to the safe and secure operation of SFO, and we stand with the employees during this difficult time and will continue to expand our support as the shutdown continues," airport Director Mike Nakornkhet said at Tuesday's Airport Commission meeting."

"Security staff at SFO are not affected by the shutdown because they are employed by a private company, Covenant Aviation Security, which provides screening services to the federal government. Unlike other airports, which have seen an increase in sick callouts by air traffic controllers that has led to flight delays - including Burbank International, where a tower was unstaffed for hours Monday - SFO has not yet experienced delays due to controllers not showing up for work. However, the airport was experiencing a near-45-minute ground delay due to weather conditions on Wednesday."

San Francisco International Airport has 1,300 federal workers reporting to work without pay amid the government shutdown. Affected agencies include the FAA, Customs and Border Protection, DEA, Coast Guard, FBI and federal air marshals. Security screening staff are unaffected because they work for Covenant Aviation Security, a private contractor. SFO has not yet seen flight impacts from controller absences, though a near-45-minute ground delay occurred because of weather. Airport leadership reports close coordination with the local air traffic control tower and is offering temporary support measures, including parking and concession discounts and donation drives for federal employees.

Read at SFGATE