#air-traffic-controllers

#air-traffic-controllers

The bill proposes funding salaries, operating expenses and other Federal Aviation Administration programs by tapping into a little-used fund with $2.6 billion that was created to reimburse airlines if the government commandeers their planes and they are damaged. The bill's sponsors, which include four of the top Republicans and Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, hope that relying on the fund might make their bill more attractive than other proposals because it would limit the potential cost of dolling out paychecks.

Airlines are telling passengers Thursday not to worry too much about pending air-traffic restrictions stemming from the shutdown and ongoing strain on the nation's air traffic controllers. But if you're scheduled to take a shorter, regional flight, you may be impacted. "Long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted," said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby in a memo to employees Thursday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X the cuts are "designed to alleviate pressure" on air traffic controllers who are considered essential employees and required to continue working during the shutdown, but are not currently receiving a paycheck. "Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible," Duffy said. "This is data-based ... this is about, 'Where is the pressure and how do we alleviate the pressure?'"