WATCH: Davids Discusses Impact of Government Shutdown on Aviation Safety, Workforce

Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a press conference to highlight the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on aviation safety and the workforce, including the first missed paychecks for aviation workers this week. Davids — who recently announced support for new legislation to ensure aviation operations continue smoothly and employees are paid during a shutdown — has consistently called for a bipartisan solution to reopen the government and protect the livelihoods of Kansans.

“Government shutdowns have real consequences for the real people who keep our skies safe and our travel systems running,” said Davids. “Aviation workers are dedicated public servants, and no one should have to go weeks without a paycheck due to partisan political gridlock in Washington. Congress must come together to reopen the government – it’s been too long, and Kansans are hurting.”

WATCH: Davids was joined by a union leader who led Kansas City’s air traffic controller workforce during the 2018–2019 government shutdown

During the press conference, Davids was joined by Todd Mariani, who retired earlier this year after decades as an air traffic controller and served as Kansas City’s air traffic controller union president during the 2018–2019 shutdown. The pair detailed the strain shutdowns place on aviation safety systems, including delays in critical maintenance, interruptions to training, and increased stress on employees responsible for keeping the skies safe. The discussion highlighted the human impact of the shutdown, with aviation workers and their families facing financial uncertainty as essential services continue without pay.

“I saw firsthand during the last shutdown how it affects aviation safety and our workforce,” said Todd Mariani, former Kansas City Center National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President. “During a shutdown, [air traffic controllers] are required to show up to work without pay, creating unnecessary stress for them and their families… We need bipartisan support and bipartisan cooperation to get the government reopened.”

Impact of the shutdown on aviation:

• Air traffic controllers and other aviation employees are working without pay, causing financial strain.
• Safety-critical maintenance and inspections may be delayed, increasing risks for travelers.
• Staffing shortages and overtime demands contribute to employee stress and fatigue.
• Travel disruptions and operational inefficiencies affect both commercial and general aviation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs fewer than 11,000 fully certified controllers — well below recommended levels — forcing many to work overtime in high-pressure environments. Davids recently toured the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe. She emphasized the urgent need to invest in air traffic control staffing and safety infrastructure following a recent air collision involving a passenger aircraft and military helicopter originating from Wichita.

A shutdown has serious impacts on Kansas families and the overall U.S. economy. Americans now face disruptions to important benefits, service members are not being compensated, many small businesses have altered their operations, and federal workers have been furloughed without pay. Specifically: 

• It’s estimated the five-week partial government shutdown in 2018-2019 reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters, and the 2013 full government shutdown reduced GDP growth by $20 billion.
• Kansans receiving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits are experiencing service delays, including disruptions to verifying benefits and the issuance of new cards.
• There are currently more than 25,000 federal workers in Kansas who may have been furloughed.
  • A bipartisan report found that the last three government shutdowns led to the equivalent of 56,940 years in lost productivity from federal workers.
• The distribution of important food assistance programs, including SNAP, has been disrupted, leaving some Kansans — including women, children, and the elderly — without nutritious food.
• Small businesses are dealing with delays in receiving loans from the federal government.
  • Moody’s Analytics estimated that the 2018-2019 shutdown delayed more than $2 billion in loans to small businesses.
• Travelers are seeing longer lines at airport security checkpoints and flight delays. They’re also dealing with delayed passport processing times.

While Davids works to reopen the government, Kansans impacted by the shutdown can visit her shutdown webpage for resources that may help during this time. Impacted federal workers can also utilize Davids’ Job Seekers Guide, which provides valuable resources for finding new employment and support during periods of unemployment.