The New Stalemate in Congress: FAA Shutdown

While Congress may have temporarily settled the debt crisis, the Senate left for recess before addressing another key stalemate: the financing of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a key organization that governs most aspects of the country’s airports and air travel safety. Basically, beginning four years ago, Congress has been passing temporary financing measures to keep the FAA afloat. When one plan ran its course, a new temporary fix was put in place. Well the most recent measure expired last month, and a temporary financing plan was passed by the House, but stopped by negotiations in the Senate. There were a few contentious points including: (i) $14 million subsidy for commercial air service to rural airports and (ii) the bill’s anti-union legislation which the GOP claims that major airlines like Delta support. Essentially, it looks like Senate Republicans are willing to shut down the FAA in order to get its union-busting language through.

The result of all of this is that 4,000 workers have been furloughed (fancy word for unemployed at the moment) and airport safety inspectors have been asked to continue working without pay to keep airports operating safely. While most people might consider this a ridiculous ask, the FAA administrator, Randy Babbitt, asserts that the inspectors should definitely work without pay, as "we are depending and living on their professionalism at this point." In addition to the temporary unemployment, if this stalemate lasts until labor day, analysts estimate that it will cost the government up to $1 billion in lost tax revenues. Each day, the government is losing $30 million. The fact that a $14 million subsidy could be holding up a deal that is costing the country $30 million a day seems a bit odd. In a time when government leaders are preaching cost cutting and curbing spending, another reckless stalemate that is costing this country financially should be enough to force a deal as soon as possible.