Aviation Complications Likely Spurred Move to Reopen U.S. Government
Skift Take
Let's say the aviation industry hadn't been affected by the government shutdown. Would President Trump have moved to reopen the government this week? Probably not. But aviation is important, and no one wanted to see more delays and cancellations.
On Friday morning, U.S. airlines delayed flights along the East Coast as the Federal Aviation Administration dealt with staff shortages at two air traffic control facilities where more workers than usual called in sick.
By afternoon, the federal government, which was shut down for more than a month — and two employee pay periods — was set to reopen after President Trump accepted a deal that did not meet his initial demands. It's a short-term solution, with the government funded for three weeks. But considering the Trump Administration had dropped hints the government could remain closed into March, this is a major development.
Is it a coincidence the government reopened on the same day some of the nation’s air travelers suffered a major inconvenience? And on the same week the entire aviation system — from airlines to controllers to TSA screeners — raised the stakes in their campaign to force the government to reopen?
Probably not.
Roughly 800,000 government employ
