Effect on aviation in America, Deadlock on Shutdown continues

Washington, October 7 (IANS). The US government has entered its seventh day, and there are reports of delays on flights at various airports across the country. Flights were delayed at airports in New York, Denver and Los Angeles due to a lack of air traffic controllers. Staff shortages are also reported in Washington, DC, Newark, New Jersey and Jacksonville, Florida. A pilot was preparing to go down from California at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday and leave the air traffic control tower. Instead of the usual conversation about departure, the pilot said: “The tower is closed due to staff shortage,” according to sound recorded by liveatc.net. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the Democrats for the crisis, saying the opposition party jeopardized the well -being of air traffic controllers and their families. “Our air traffic workers deserve to go to work, be paid and not endanger their and their families’ well -being through a government’s closure,” he posted on Twitter. Military and civil employees are not paid during the closure, while approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers work without pay. The Department of Telecommunications has banned additional activities such as appointment and training of air traffic controllers. Duffy announced on Monday that funding for a federal program that subsidizes air travel in rural areas would result in the end of the week if the closure continues. “There are many small communities across the country that will no longer have the resources to ensure airline in their communities,” he said. US President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that he was ready to negotiate with Democrats to reopen the government, as a vote on another financing bill in the Senate did not break the impasse. In a truth group, Trump said: “I would love to work with Democrats to their failed healthcare policies or any other matter, but first they must allow us to reopen our government.” Earlier, while talking to the media, Trump said, “Negotiating with Democrats about healthcare.” Republicans have accused Democrats of claiming healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants, which dismiss Democrats as lies spread by the Trump administration. Democrats say they are trying to reverse the cuts to the healthcare for US citizens in the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ earlier this year. About two-thirds of staff at the National Park Service, the federal agency running national parks, were also inundated during the closure, which affects tourist destinations such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and the White Sands National Park in New Mexico. In Washington, DC, the Library of Congress, the National Archives Museum, the Washington Monument and the National Arboretum were closed, and tours by the Capitol building and the Pentagon were suspended. The Museums of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and the National Zoo announced last week that they will remain open to the public until October 11. This is the first US government in seven years, as the previous closure took place in Trump’s first term and lasted 35 days – the longest in history. -—IANS DKP/