Source: Kristi Noem
Australia has issued a warning for travellers to the US as flight delays and airport queues build across the country amid the continued government shutdown.
It came as the US Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights for a fourth day at airports such as Reagan Washington National and Newark Liberty International Airport amid rising staffing shortages.
There have been 19,000 flight delays in the US this week – including almost 6000 on Monday and 3300 on Thursday (local time). Thousands are tied to the FAA slowing flights because of air traffic controller absences at airports across the US as the government shutdown continues.
As the queues lengthened, the Trump administration began airing a video at US airports blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our [Transportation Security Administration] employees are working without pay,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says in the video.
In Australia, the government’s Smartraveller website warned the shutdown, which began on October 1, had “affected some federal government services”.
“This has included some flight delays and longer queue times at a number of airports. Check with your travel provider to see if your travel plans have been affected,” it said.
It continued to advise “normal safety precautions” across the US – with a couple of caveats.
“Avoid areas where demonstrations and protests are occurring due to the potential for unrest and violence. Monitor media for updates and follow instructions of local authorities,” Smartraveller said.
It also warns on the US’s ‘strict” entry requirements, after reports of Australians and other visitors being deported in recent months.
“US authorities have broad powers to decide if you’re eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason under US law,” is the official advice for Australians.
“Check US entry, registration, transit and exit requirements. Whether you’re travelling on a visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, ensure you understand all relevant terms and conditions before attempting to enter the United States.”
In this current government shutdown, air traffic control staffing issues have emerged earlier than the last major halt to US government funding in 2019, during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
That shutdown lasted 35 days, with checkpoint waiting times growing at airports as controller and TSA officer absences rose as workers missed paycheques. Authorities were forced to slow air traffic in New York, which put pressure on lawmakers to quickly end the standoff.
Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 TSA officers must still turn up for work during the latest shutdown, although they will not be paid.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that there had been a slight increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the latest shutdown began.
“We’re tracking sick calls, sick leave. And have we had a slight tick up in sick calls? Yes,” he said.
“You’ll see delays come from that. … Our priorities are safety, and so if we have additional calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people.”
The US has faced air traffic control shortages for more than a decade, and many controllers had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown. The FAA is about 3500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels.
With the shutdown well into its second week, there is still no discernible endgame in sight. Republican and Democratic leaders continue to blame the other side.
“Every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this shutdown the worse it gets for Americans, and the clearer it becomes who’s fighting for them,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.
-with AAP
