Travelers wait in line to check their bags at a Delta Air Lines counter below Terminal 1 on Wednesday. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Air travel has become a political flashpoint after the federal government shut down Oct. 1, with pressure building on Republicans and Democrats to end the impasse in Washington, D.C.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made several public appearances last week warning of a prolonged shutdown’s potential to affect airspace operations. And Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a controversial video for airports to play on loop in TSA security lines that placed sole blame for any hassle on Democrats.
Other lawmakers have alleged the video violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits some federal employees from participating in some political activity. MSP is among a handful of airports that have refused to air the video.
In the meantime, federal employee unions and the airline industry are calling for a swift resolution to the stoppage.
A continuing federal shutdown means air traffic controllers and TSA employees are working without paychecks. While TSA and air traffic workers are doing their jobs without compensation for now, federal union leaders warn the essential workers can only go without pay for so long.
Drew MacQueen, a Midwestern regional union leader with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and an air traffic controller in Cleveland, said the government shutdown is “an unnecessary distraction on top of an already challenging and stressful job.” The system is already fragile, he said, as air traffic control towers are understaffed by roughly 3,800 people, and controllers are putting in longer hours and work weeks.
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