Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
Flight delays are continuing at major U.S. airports, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as the government shutdown enters its second month, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of "mass chaos" if it continues. "So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos," Duffy said, speaking at a press conference Tuesday. "You will see mass flight delays. You'll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers." Duffy, who blamed the shutdown on Democrats at a news conference, explained many controllers said they can afford to miss one paycheck - but "none" can manage missing two. "After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue," the Federal Aviation Administration said in Oct. 31 post on X. According to the post, nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began. Over the weekend, a "surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple facilities, leading to widespread impacts across the national air system." Most controllers are continuing to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said. Before the shutdown, the FAA was already dealing with a long-standing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers. "As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety," the post went on to say. "When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations." Local Early Wednesday morning, 22 O'Hare flights were reported delayed, according to FlyChicago. A day earlier, the number of delayed O'Hare flights hit 145, the site showed. The delays come after O'Hare announced it set an all-time passenger record of more than 8.26 million passengers in July, making it the airport's busiest summer in its 70-year history. "That’s an average of more than 266,000 passengers each day," Mayor Brandon Johnson's office said in an announcement about the record. They also come weeks away from the busy holiday travel season. Last year, O'Hare and Midway welcomed more than 3.66 million passengers over the December holidays, with approximately 7.8% more travelers than 2023. Over Thanksgiving, the airports saw a 11.4% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023, the CDA said. The CDA did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's request for comment. Why is the U.S. Government shutdown? President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government. But skeptical Democrats question whether the Republican president will keep his word, particularly after the administration restricted SNAP food aid, despite court orders to ensure funds are available to prevent hunger. Trump, whose first term at the White House set the previous government shutdown record, is set to meet early Wednesday for breakfast with GOP senators. But no talks have been scheduled with the Democrats. Trump’s approach to this shutdown stands in marked contrast to his first term, when the government was partially closed for 35 days over his demands for funds to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall. At that time, he met publicly and negotiated with congressional leaders, but unable to secure the funds, he relented in 2019. This time, it’s not just Trump declining to engage in talks. The congressional leaders are at a standoff and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent lawmakers home in September after they approved their own funding bill, refusing further negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said this has been not only the longest shutdown but also “the most severe shutdown on record.” The Republican leader has urged the Democrats to accept his overtures to vote on the health care issue and keep negotiating a solution once the government reopens, arguing that no one wins politically from the standoff. Republicans are reluctant to fund the health care program, also known as Obamacare, without reforms, but negotiating a compromise with Democrats is expected to take time, if a deal can be reached at all. Thune has promised Democrats at least a vote on their preferred health care proposal, on a date certain, as part of any deal to reopen government. But that’s not enough for some senators, who see the health care deadlock as part of their broader concerns with Trump’s direction for the country. The White House says its position remains unchanged and that Democrats must vote to fund the government before talks over health care can begin. White House officials are in close contact with GOP senators who have been quietly speaking with key Senate Democrats, according to a senior White House official. The official was granted anonymity to discuss administration strategy.
