Transportation Secretary says government shutdown adds stress on air traffic controllers

"Now what they think about as they're controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table? I'm working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I'm already exhausted from doing a job that's already stressful to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck? Duffy said."

"Yeah, that would be hard to work for no pay, Taylor said. But I think they understand the importance of their job. And the safety that provides to us as travelers. They need to get paid."

"The Transportation Department has been able to keep the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City open for now with funding from previous years, but Duffy is still concerned about the potential impact on efforts to hire and train new controllers in the hope of eliminating a longstanding shortage."

The government shutdown is increasing stress on air traffic controllers who are working without pay and facing difficulty paying mortgages, car payments, and food costs. Controllers are working extra days and may need second jobs while managing a highly stressful, safety-sensitive workload. Passenger reactions at Newark Liberty International Airport expressed support for controllers receiving pay. The air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City remains open using prior-year funding, but hiring, training, and support staff positions risk disruption or layoffs, jeopardizing efforts to reduce a longstanding controller shortage. The air traffic controllers union called for Congress to end the shutdown.

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