Vice President JD Vance said Americans could face challenging air travel conditions over the busy Thanksgiving holiday period if the government shutdown does not end.
The Vice President urged Democrats to deliver the votes needed to reopen the government, warning that potentially disastrous travel conditions would result if the shutdown is not resolved.
“It could be a disaster. It really could be, because at that point you’re talking about people have missed three paychecks,” Vance said, per Reuters. “How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
Following a White House meeting with the chief executives of DFW-based American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as unions and other aviation industry officials, Vance stated that a continued shutdown could result in increased employee absences, longer security lines, and flight delays.
Delta Air Lines and United have both urged Congress to pass a stopgap funding bill as soon as possible to allow the government to reopen. According to Reuters, sources indicate that the shutdown has led to a surge in flight delays due to an increase in absences among air traffic controllers.
“I just want to say to any Democrat in the United States Senate, we are happy to talk about any policy issue… but not at the point of a gun,” said Vance, per PBS. “You do not get to take the American people’s government hostage and then demand that we give you everything you want in order to pay our air traffic controllers.”
The government shutdown has resulted in 13,000 air traffic controllers, alongside 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers, working without pay.
Airlines have repeatedly urged the government to reach a resolution, highlighting the safety risks associated with the staffing shortage. There has been a surge in unscheduled absences that could result in disruptions similar to those that ultimately led to the end of a 2019 shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said more than four out of 10 delays on Sunday, and nearly a quarter on Monday, were tied to air traffic controller absences. This compares to just one in 20 on average before the shutdown.