Democratic senators reacted to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s decision to slash flight capacity by ten percent at 40 airports, a move made just before the Thanksgiving travel boom. As tensions mount, Senate Republicans have seized the opportunity to point fingers, claiming Democrats bear responsibility for any resulting chaos. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt underscored this sentiment, stating that Democrats will only act if “planes are falling out of the sky.”
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who heads the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, made it clear that the choice to reduce flights was made with safety in mind. In a post on X, he emphasized, “there was no choice but to reduce air traffic to keep it safe.”
On the Democratic side, there is no shortage of opinions. Sen. Tim Kaine from Virginia acknowledged the need for safety, saying, “we’ve got to make sure that flights are safe.” His statement included a rare moment of support for Duffy, indicating, “I don’t question Secretary Duffy. He wants to make sure that flights are safe.” This aligned with the sentiment that safety priorities dictate tough decisions.
However, not all Democratic lawmakers saw the decision through the same lens. Sen. Chris Coons from Delaware voiced a more critical perspective. He suggested that the directive from Duffy aims to “pressure” Democrats into reopening the government, particularly without compromising their demands regarding healthcare policies, notably Obamacare. Coons remarked that, given the strains on air traffic controllers, it may be necessary to focus on larger issues impacting citizens, asserting, “My impression is this is another attempt at putting pressure on Congress to reopen the government.”
Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington echoed this concern, labeling Duffy’s command an “unprecedented” measure that required “more transparency.” He insisted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must quickly provide the safety assessments that informed such a significant decision. “If we want to resolve issues in the National Airspace System, let us fix health care, open government, and pay air traffic controllers,” Larsen urged.
The travel industry also weighed in. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman reiterated the call for Congress to swiftly act to reopen the government. Freeman stated that while Duffy’s decision underscores safety, it will undoubtedly complicate the travel experience. He warned of fewer flights and prolonged delays, cautioning that the situation fosters “chaos” during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
In recent days, the travel industry has raised alarms about the economic repercussions of the ongoing government shutdown. Their letter to congressional leaders voiced concerns about adverse long-term economic impacts on American families, businesses, and communities as Thanksgiving approaches. Notably, last year saw over 20 million travelers in the air during Thanksgiving week, displaying the holiday’s substantial economic impact.
It is not only a critical time now for family gatherings and national tradition but also a period that can create significant strains across sectors due to political impasses. The travel sector’s caution sends a clear message: the ramifications of a stalled government can reach far and wide, unsettling plans and affecting economic stability at the grassroots level.
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