Air traffic controllers will miss their paycheck on Tuesday because the Democrat Party would rather keep the government closed than help Americans, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on “Fox News Sunday Morning Futures.”
The nation is entering its fourth week of a government shutdown.
“On Tuesday, 13,000 air traffic controllers will get a $0 paycheck because Democrats are holding the government hostage,” Duffy wrote on X.
“These are well-qualified professionals who keep our airspace safe. Our planes moving on time. And the fact that they have to think about how they put food on the table so they can have a lunch and a dinner is outrageous,” Duffy told Fox News. “So again, I see that burn coming from the controllers. And again, I think it’s going to play out as we look forward into the coming days.”
The transportation secretary joined House Speaker Mike Johnson last Thursday to emphasize the importance of the government reopening as soon as possible, noting that both Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., are responsible for the shutdown and would rather jeopardize air traffic controllers’ paychecks to gain political leverage.
“To allow the radical element in the Senate to hold America hostage, I think, would be shameful. That’s not how we operate,” Duffy stated.
Duffy emphasized the impact on air travelers.
“I can’t guarantee you that your flight’s going to be on time. I can’t guarantee that your flight’s not going to be canceled. It’s going to depend on our air traffic controllers coming in to work every single day.”
“My message to them is, one, thank you for coming and working. We appreciate that. Come to work. Even if you don’t get a paycheck, we need you to come to work. But if they do not, we’ll know whose fault it is.”
Amid the government shutdown, Democrats have introduced a spending bill to end it that includes more than $1 trillion in health care funding, including funding for illegal immigrants—a provision Republicans categorically oppose. The bill would also expand funding for Obamacare.
Before departing for a week-long Asia tour, President Donald Trump reiterated the importance of reopening the government and expressed his willingness to negotiate on a potential new budget bill. However, he emphasized that he can’t allow illegal aliens to get free health care, as this would “hurt the citizens of our country.”
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