House Set to Vote on Bill to End Shutdown Amid Air Travel Chaos

UPDATE: The House of Representatives is poised to vote this afternoon on a critical funding bill aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown, which is wreaking havoc on air travel across the United States. Thousands of travelers are experiencing delays and cancellations at major airports, underscoring the urgent need for legislative action.

As of Wednesday morning, LaGuardia Airport has reported a staggering 4% of flights canceled, while Newark Airport also faced 4% cancellations, and John F. Kennedy Airport reported 2%. The situation is worsening, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning that airlines may be forced to stop flying altogether by the weekend if the shutdown persists.

Duffy stated, “I think we would see significant disruption coming this next weekend, maybe as early as Friday.” He emphasized that the crisis is critical, indicating, “We might find airlines that have to make decisions; do they keep flying? If this doesn’t open, you might have airlines that say, ‘We’re going to ground our planes. We’re not going to fly anymore.’ That’s how serious this is.”

Air traffic has been relatively stable in the past two days, but staffing levels are still concerning. Only four staffing triggers were reported on Tuesday, a sharp decline from 81 on Saturday. However, LaGuardia has seen 11% of flights canceled, highlighting the ongoing impact on operations.

The FAA has mandated a 6% reduction in flight operations, a figure expected to rise to 10% by Friday. Even if the bill passes and the government reopens, officials warn that it may take several days for air travel to return to normal. Duffy mentioned that air traffic controllers would begin receiving pay within 24 to 48 hours after the government reopens, but the recovery timeline remains uncertain.

The shutdown has left federal workers unpaid and is affecting nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits, adding to the urgency for a resolution. Duffy confirmed that the Department of Transportation would investigate controllers who have consistently failed to report for duty during the shutdown.

With next weekend projected to bring severe travel disruptions, the House’s decision today could have immediate ramifications for travelers nationwide. Stay tuned for updates as this situation develops and the vote unfolds.