Partial Administration Shutdown Hampering Air Traffic Control
Reportedly, in 2019, there might be lesser air traffic controllers owing to the partial administration closedown since the training institute where new air traffic controllers coached has closed. The NATCA (National Traffic Controllers Association) states the closedown is not only impacting employee shortages, but it can outcome in flight delays. A pilot from Jacksonville International Airport reported, “It absolutely adds stress. It is an extremely nerve-racking job, to begin with.” He also added that air traffic controllers are tough at work without pay. “I do not think it is right that they should have this added pressure of not knowing when their next paycheck comes, and then the truth that they are already understaffed. It might create some main issues in the prospect,” he said.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) office of communication, stated reported the message, “We are not functioning due to the government close down.” Though in a tweet, the FAA said, “Air traffic control is fully operational and there is no impact to the safety of FAA oversight for travelers.” The NATCA stated the recent staffing information from the FAA illustrated that the agency intends to hire almost 1,500 employees in the present year, but the administration shutdown set hurdles to that plan. The NATCA also said that there are less fully skilled air traffic controllers presently on the job compared to last three decades.
Speaking of the partial government shutdown, lately, it was stated that million people could go through severe curbs to food stamps owing to government close down. The partial administration shutdown is soaring with no end in sight. If the administration is not restarted before February, millions of individuals who get benefits from the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)—the U.S. food stamp program—can have their support disrupted. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)—which manages SNAP at the centralized level—is one of the institutes unfunded during the partial administration closedown. Though the SNAP is involuntarily renewed, it has not been assigned funding from Congress further than January. Congress has allotted $3 Billion in emergency funds for the SNAP allocation, but that will not cover all of February’s responsibilities.
