Congress Introduces “Preserve America Flying Act” to Guarantee Vital Staff Get Paid Throughout Authorities Shutdown
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Because the federal authorities shutdown enters its fifth week, roughly 14,000 air visitors controllers and 61,000 Transportation Safety Administration workers proceed working with out pay, prompting pressing congressional motion to guard America’s aviation system.
The Preserve America Flying Act
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has launched the Preserve America Flying Act of 2026 (Senate Invoice S.3031) to make sure important air visitors management, FAA and TSA employees obtain each again pay and ongoing compensation throughout the shutdown. The laws has gained bipartisan assist as aviation employees face mounting monetary strain.
The invoice would supply retroactive pay courting again to September 30 and proceed funding till common appropriations are enacted or by way of the tip of fiscal yr 2026, whichever comes first. Funding would come from Treasury Division assets not in any other case appropriated and would cowl pay, advantages and allowances for air visitors controllers, TSA screeners, and contractors supporting important security and safety capabilities.
Home Companion Invoice
Consultant John James (R-MI) launched a companion Home model of the Preserve America Flying Act, increasing the laws’s attain throughout each chambers of Congress. The Michigan Republican, a former Military pilot, emphasised the essential nature of sustaining aviation safety and security.
Influence on Air Journey Operations
The shutdown’s results on air journey are already turning into obvious. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that 44 % of U.S. flight delays on a latest Sunday had been resulting from staffing points at air visitors management services—a determine that usually hovers round 5 %. The secretary additionally acknowledged a “slight pickup” in air visitors controller sick depart throughout the shutdown.
Since October 1, Federal Aviation Administration services have reported no less than 264 staffing points, greater than 4 occasions the 60 reported throughout the identical interval final yr.
Business Response
Main airways together with American, Delta, Southwest, and United have referred to as for swift decision by way of Airways for America, emphasizing the significance of stability throughout peak journey seasons. Pilot unions representing 30,000 aviation professionals have additionally urged Congress to finish the shutdown, citing security issues as controllers work below stress with out paychecks.
“You might be carrying the load of the nationwide airspace system, now doing it and not using a paycheck. This isn’t acceptable, and it isn’t sustainable,” stated Nick Daniels, president of the Nationwide Air Visitors Controllers Affiliation.
Timing Considerations
Vice President JD Vance warned that the shutdown’s timing might create main disruptions throughout the Thanksgiving journey season, cautioning that lacking three paychecks might result in a possible “catastrophe” for aviation. The prevailing scarcity of roughly 3,800 absolutely licensed air visitors controllers, mixed with many working 10-hour days and six-day weeks, makes the present state of affairs notably precarious.
The Preserve America Flying Act represents Congress’s newest try and protect essential transportation infrastructure from authorities funding disputes, as lawmakers work to handle the quick disaster dealing with America’s aviation system whereas broader price range negotiations proceed.
