Auditor General DePasquale Says Federal Shutdown Causing Delays in Air Travel, Raising Safety Concerns
Auditor General DePasquale Says Federal Shutdown Causing Delays in Air Travel, Raising Safety Concerns
HARRISBURG (Jan. 25, 2019) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today noted that the longest-ever federal government shutdown continues to have broad consequences, including causing disruptions to air travel.
“Air traffic controllers being forced to work without pay are increasingly calling off, which caused flight delays at Philadelphia and several other airports earlier today,” DePasquale said. “This left the FAA scrambling to re-route air traffic and take other steps to ensure the safety of air travelers.”
This week, airline executives warned that the nation’s air travel system was facing strain as a result of staffing concerns. Labor officials have warned that the professionals who keep the air system running are fatigued and distressed.
“The federal shutdown has halted or slowed paychecks for a wide range of other workers, including TSA officers, aviation safety inspectors and others,” DePasquale said. “While they’re obviously doing the best job they can, a growing number of voices are warning that it’s only a matter of time before safety is impacted – and that could needlessly endanger peoples’ lives.”
Learn more about the Department of the Auditor General online at www.paauditor.gov.
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