As the end of the record-setting government shutdown looms, the repercussions on air travel and federal workers are still being felt, and resolution seems to be on the horizon. On Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that despite the current absence of certainty around when the recent flight cuts will let up, there's cautious optimism as a bill to end the shutdown awaits a House vote, NBC Chicago reported.
The bill, which passed in the Senate earlier this week, finally brings some hope for federal workers, including air traffic controllers who continued to work without pay. Duffy noted that these controllers will receive 70% of their back pay within 24 to 48 hours after the reopening. The ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, exacerbated by the shutdown, led to thousands of delays and cancellations. Duffy, speaking at a press conference from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, stated, "I don't want to be Chicken Little for you all," Duffy said. "I'm going to give you what I see. So if the government doesn't open, if the House doesn't do its job ... I'm going to tell you we are not going to get to Thanksgiving," as per NBC Chicago.
In addition to air traffic concerns, the bill addresses immediate financial relief for SNAP beneficiaries and makes provisions for furloughed workers to return to work and receive back pay. This measure could lead to the reopening of federal agencies through January 30, 2026, following President Donald Trump's signature, ABC News reports. However, Trump's vocal displeasure towards controllers who missed work during the shutdown could stir tensions in a profession already suffering from high stress and low numbers.
Meanwhile, travelers have been grappling with widespread delays and cancellations at various major U.S. airports. While Secretary Duffy assured that more controllers are returning to work, with "only four staffing triggers compared to 81 on Saturday," the aviation industry braces for the ripple effects of resumed operations. According to NBC Chicago, former FAA air traffic control chief Mike McCormick suggested recovery should take a matter of days, likening the situation to rebounding from a major snowstorm. Trump's promise that travel will "go better than normal" post-reopening may be an assurance for travelers, despite ACA subsidies not being included in the Senate's bipartisan deal to reopen the government.
