On October 28th, Air Traffic Control workers went home without a paycheck as the government shutdown drags on. This came only four days after Transportation Security Administration officers missed their full check on October 24.
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It marks the first full paycheck that employees have missed, with some news outlets reporting that employees are calling off to seek out paying jobs. Some are signing up for rideshares like Uber, while others are taking off to babysit children rather than pay for childcare.
In short, it’s an undesirable setup for ATC and TSA agents. ATC agents must focus entirely on their work for hours on end to make sure flights run smoothly, while TSA agents need to be vigilant as they perform security duties, screening thousands of passengers each shift.
While some families can manage until they’re paid for October’s work in late November, not all ATC and TSA agents can do so.
Now onto the question that’s popping up on US headlines: where does this leave us for the holiday season?
ATC & TSA workers might not be paid in November, if the shutdown continues
If the government shutdown continues, around 13,000 ATC workers and 50,000 TSA employees will miss yet another round of paychecks in late November. While employees from both sectors continue to show up and work hard, understaffing can cause extensive delays.
Understaffing at the security line causes long waits to get to the gates, meaning passengers can potentially miss their flights. On top of that, understaffing in air traffic control towers means flights could be delayed by hours or canceled altogether.
In short, passengers who have multi-leg flights to get back home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays could face serious hiccups at the airport later this year. And understaffing is only going to intensify as TSA and ATC employees go longer without pay.
According to a USDOT official, air traffic control absences have already accounted for 53% of air traffic delays since the shutdown started. However, a special Senate hearing tomorrow could see legislation passed that will ensure federal employees are paid during shutdowns.
