Siri Stafford/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) A government shutdown would worsen the FAA s ongoing air traffic control shortage eventually resulting in potential travel disruptions.
Approximately 1,000 air traffic controllers would be furloughed next week if Congress can t reach a deal, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday.
The shutdown also would force the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close its ATC training facility in Oklahoma, he said. It would also take some trainee controllers working at airport towers off the job. More than 13,000 certified controllers would continue to work without pay.
"We ve obviously seen a lot of disruptions to air traffic, especially this past year. Some of those are caused by weather, some of those were caused by airlines, but a factor can be availability of air traffic control staffing," Buttigieg said at a news conference. "A shutdown lasting a few days could mean we will not hit our staffing and hiring targe
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