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Two weeks into the federal government shutdown, essential workers are already receiving partial paychecks, illustrating the growing financial stress as lawmakers failed again to reopen the government.Air traffic controllers across the country started receiving their first partial paychecks on Tuesday, and stressed that the financial distraction is becoming impossible to ignore. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said its members are expected to miss their first full paycheck in just a couple of weeks."We are not responsible for ending shutdowns," NATCA President Nick Daniels said. "Only our elected officials are, and our elected officials need to end the shutdown today."Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers played a major role in delaying nearly half of all flights at the San Francisco International Airport on Monday, according to reports from our Hearst partners at the San Francisco Chronicle."It's just truly important that we all get paid as soon as possible for the work that we're doing," Peter LeFevre, an air traffic controller, said Tuesday. "We will make sure that we do the job that we're hired to do, but anytime you're not receiving your paycheck when you expect it, the financial burden that is placed on your family and yourself is challenging and is something that is going to be on our minds."As employees and unions demand an end to the shutdown, the White House announced plans for the federal workforce. President Donald Trump has pledged full pay for military members. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the same for the U.S. Coast Guard last week. Despite that, the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) said more "reduction in force (RIF)" layoffs would be coming.Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that air traffic controllers will receive back pay when the shutdown ends. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also said he is open to considering emergency legislation to pay air traffic controllers before that.Also on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his commitment to pay military troops, mentioning that an unnamed donor told him they would be willing to make up for any shortfall. Inquiries to the White House and the OMB on plans to use emergency or unallocated funds to pay other essential federal workers during the shutdown went unanswered as of Tuesday. The Department of Transportation (DOT) did not directly answer similar questions, writing instead:"We're seeing an uptick in controller shortages across the country. And where are the radical democrats? Voting against giving our great controllers a paycheck. This is the last thing they need."Watch the latest coverage on the federal government shutdown:
WASHINGTON —
Two weeks into the federal government shutdown, essential workers are already receiving partial paychecks, illustrating the growing financial stress as lawmakers failed again to reopen the government.
Air traffic controllers across the country started receiving their first partial paychecks on Tuesday, and stressed that the financial distraction is becoming impossible to ignore. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said its members are expected to miss their first full paycheck in just a couple of weeks.
"We are not responsible for ending shutdowns," NATCA President Nick Daniels said. "Only our elected officials are, and our elected officials need to end the shutdown today."
Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers played a major role in delaying nearly half of all flights at the San Francisco International Airport on Monday, according to reports from our Hearst partners at the San Francisco Chronicle.
"It's just truly important that we all get paid as soon as possible for the work that we're doing," Peter LeFevre, an air traffic controller, said Tuesday. "We will make sure that we do the job that we're hired to do, but anytime you're not receiving your paycheck when you expect it, the financial burden that is placed on your family and yourself is challenging and is something that is going to be on our minds."
As employees and unions demand an end to the shutdown, the White House announced plans for the federal workforce. President Donald Trump has pledged full pay for military members. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the same for the U.S. Coast Guard last week. Despite that, the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) said more "reduction in force (RIF)" layoffs would be coming.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that air traffic controllers will receive back pay when the shutdown ends. House Speaker Mike Johnson has also said he is open to considering emergency legislation to pay air traffic controllers before that.
Also on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his commitment to pay military troops, mentioning that an unnamed donor told him they would be willing to make up for any shortfall.
Inquiries to the White House and the OMB on plans to use emergency or unallocated funds to pay other essential federal workers during the shutdown went unanswered as of Tuesday.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) did not directly answer similar questions, writing instead:
"We're seeing an uptick in controller shortages across the country. And where are the radical democrats? Voting against giving our great controllers a paycheck. This is the last thing they need."
Watch the latest coverage on the federal government shutdown:
English (US)