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Amna Nawaz:
American airlines began reducing their flights at major airports today, as the longest government closure in US history continues. More than a thousand flights were canceled at 40 airports by early evening, and the Trump administration was locked in a court battle over an order to begin disbursing food aid immediately.
All of this comes at a time when Congress and the president remain deadlocked over a way out, Lisa Desjardins reported.
Lisa Desjardins:
Today, the government ordered a nationwide reduction in flights and a new question mark for travellers.
Angel, Air Traveler, Reagan National Airport:
Nobody wants to travel and then end up getting stuck, so that’s definitely a concern for a lot of us, for sure.
Lisa Desjardins:
As the government lockdown enters its 38th day.
Michael Timinstone, Air Traveler, Reagan National Airport:
I think lockdown is terrible. This has affected my travel, as I woke up this morning not knowing if I could board my flight or not.
Lisa Desjardins:
Meanwhile, more than a million federal workers have been without pay for at least a month, many have had to stay on their jobs, and many air traffic controllers and TSA workers have been missing work.
TSA agent and mother of two Maggie Sabatino keeps a close eye on her pantry, and stays home for a specific reason.
Maggie Sabatino, TSA agent:
When I call, I tell them the truth. Can’t afford child care. That’s enough to keep it for maybe another week.
Lisa Desjardins:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside Washington, D.C., today, blaming the Senate and most Democrats for not acting quickly enough.
Sean Duffy, US Secretary of Transportation:
They should be here every day, every weekend, every week to try to get an agreement, so we can open up the government again.
Lisa Desjardins:
At an event later in the day, Duffy warned that flight cuts could reach 20% if the government shutdown continues through the holiday season.
Senate Democrats said the repeals were political, and someone on the Senate floor made a pitch to end the shutdown centered around extending Affordable Care Act benefits for one year. But Republicans want more discussion about it.
They are frustrated with Democrats’ tactics and seem unlikely to accept it, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune telling reporters he expects the Senate to remain at least part of this weekend. Meanwhile, it’s been seven days since SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program, was frozen due to the shutdown.
Andria Blue, President of the Make a Difference Foundation: We are facing a food crisis.
Lisa Desjardins:
Food banks across the country say they are struggling as courts battle over the program. Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must pay all of this month’s SNAP benefits immediately.
Judge John McConnell found that the administration actually had political reasons to stop, writing: “Failing to make payments for even another day is simply unacceptable.”
The Trump administration immediately resumed this. Yesterday, Vice President J.D. Vance called the ruling absurd and appeared to question the court’s authority.
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We cannot have a federal court telling the president how he should sort out the situation. We will not do so under the orders of a federal judge. We will do this according to what we think we need to do to comply with the law, of course.
Lisa Desjardins:
Senate Democrats criticized the Trump administration for this.
Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.):
It’s not a game. I don’t see this as leverage. Now, a president who refuses to release SNAP money to feed people, now, that is irresponsible and irreproachable influence.
Lisa Desjardins:
Concern continues to rise at food banks.
Marcy Fleming, board member for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest: If we’re the only source of food for people, I don’t know how these kids and the elderly and the disabled can do it, I don’t know what they can do.
Lisa Desjardins:
In Ohio, this mother of four says she has been skipping meals to help feed her children.
Christine Lehner, SNAP recipient:
For the past three days, I haven’t eaten anything to make sure they’re fed. I would rather starve than see them go hungry.
Lisa Desjardins:
The duration of the shutdown is increasing, and quickly, so are its effects, as travelers brace for mass disruptions at airports and SNAP beneficiaries wait for benefits to return.
On the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.
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