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President Nick Daniels of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party that the ongoing government shutdown is posing serious safety risks in U.S. airspace.<\/p>\n
The NATCA, which represents more than 10,800 certified air traffic controllers nationwide, has repeatedly called on Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to end the shutdown \u2014 now on track to become the longest in American history.<\/p>\n
The House approved a clean CR a month ago, but Democrats have blocked it more than a dozen times, insisting on tying the measure to their partisan legislative demands.<\/p>\n
Daniels emphasized that air traffic controllers are unfairly shouldering the weight of the shutdown, with thousands now working exhausting six-day, 10-hour shifts amid an existing shortage of 3,800 personnel.<\/p>\n
As essential workers, controllers are required to remain on the job, yet many are facing severe financial strain. They received partial paychecks for pre-shutdown work on October 14, followed by $0 paychecks on October 28 and in the pay periods since \u2014 leaving many with more than 120 hours of unpaid labor.<\/p>\n
The shutdown has also furloughed 2,350 support staff \u2014 including engineers and technicians \u2014 while freezing new controller hiring and training and pausing critical maintenance and modernization projects, leaving the air traffic system increasingly vulnerable.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Fox News, Daniels said hundreds of controllers have been forced to take second jobs just to make ends meet amid the prolonged shutdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese American patriots, they are the unsung heroes that Secretary Duffy speaks about so often. They are the ones that have been thrust into the spotlight, into center focus of a shutdown. And air traffic controllers, we don\u2019t start shutdowns, we\u2019re not responsible for ending shutdowns. Who does? Congress,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why we\u2019re saying, end the shutdown immediately. It\u2019s not like we\u2019re sitting here talking about an aviation issue. We\u2019re talking, I understand the fears, the frustrations of the American people. We want to do an amazing job on their behalf, and we are. We\u2019re showing up to work every day, the best way that we can to get through this crisis. But this isn\u2019t something that we asked for. We didn\u2019t want to put ourselves in the middle of it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet here we are, the rope in the tug of war game that we didn\u2019t ask for at all. And we should not be used as political pawns in any way, shape or form for these shutdowns,\u201d Daniels noted further.<\/p>\n
WATCH:<\/p>\n
Air traffic controllers have become a focal point in the government shutdown standoff, as flight delays and cancellations ripple across more than 20 U.S. airports.<\/p>\n
Over the October 31\u2013November 2 weekend \u2014 the worst stretch since the shutdown began \u2014 the FAA logged 98 \u201cstaffing triggers,\u201d forcing ground stops, reduced arrival rates, and flight reroutes. Half of the nation\u2019s 30 busiest airports reported staffing shortages, with absences in the New York area soaring to 80 percent.<\/p>\n
NATCA and aviation experts have issued grave warnings, saying the shutdown is \u201ceroding critical layers of safety\u201d and rendering the National Airspace System \u201cless safe with each passing day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schumer has openly admitted that Senate Democrats are dragging out the government shutdown for political gain. In an October 9 interview with Punchbowl News,\u00a0<\/p>\n
He went even further, effectively insulting the intelligence of his own voters by insisting the shutdown is the GOP\u2019s fault because Republicans \u201ccontrol everything.\u201d In reality, that\u2019s flatly untrue \u2014 Senate Republicans can\u2019t pass a clean continuing resolution without 60 votes.<\/p>\n
Just as the world slumbered, the ground beneath suddenly roared to life.<\/p>\n
Without a hint of warning, the earth convulsed and cracked, sending shockwaves through sleeping towns. Buildings shuddered violently, some giving way entirely.<\/p>\n
Barefoot and disoriented, people poured into the streets, their faces etched with fear. What began as a subtle tremor rapidly escalated into one of the most powerful earthquakes the region has seen in years\u2014a terrifying ordeal that had only just begun.<\/p>\n
In the early morning hours of Monday, a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the China\u2013Myanmar border.<\/p>\n
The quake\u2019s epicenter lay a mere 10 kilometers beneath the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, unleashing violent shaking felt across southern China, northern Thailand, and parts of Myanmar.<\/p>\n
Tragically, initial reports confirm dozens of lives lost and hundreds more injured, with countless others feared trapped under collapsed structures.<\/p>\n
The quake\u2019s reach extended far beyond its epicenter, rattling major northern Thai cities such as Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, where panicked residents evacuated buildings en masse.<\/p>\n
Rescue teams are battling immense challenges\u2014damaged infrastructure, power failures, and broken communication networks\u2014to deliver urgent aid.<\/p>\n
Around the clock, emergency responders strive to provide shelter, medical attention, and relief to those caught in the disaster\u2019s wake.<\/p>\n
In Summary<\/p>\n
As the devastation becomes clearer, the race to save lives intensifies. This powerful quake has left a wide swath of destruction across several countries, underscoring the critical need for swift international cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The hours ahead will be crucial in determining how many can be rescued and cared for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Nick Daniels of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party that the ongoing government shutdown is posing serious safety risks in U.S….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t