OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A Federal Aviation Administration Academy student in the metro says they’re hopeful their team will be able to weather the impact of a government shutdown.
Hopes were bleak on Tuesday ahead of a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C., over how to proceed. Republicans came up with a short-term measure to fund the government through Nov. 21, but Democrats insisted the measure address their concerns on health care. Tuesday, Senate Democrats voted down a bill to keep funding the government, putting the country on an almost certain trajectory towards the shutdown.
The shutdown means hundreds of thousands of federal workers across the country, including in Oklahoma, could be furloughed or laid off. The Associated Press reported that the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City would have to shut down until the government was funded, sending students home. News 4 reached out to the FAA media office on Tuesday for comment, but didn’t hear back.
In February, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the academy and spoke with the media about the crucial need to address a shortage in air traffic controllers.
“We have to do something to bring more controllers online into the towers, be certified, and make sure they’re controlling our airspace,” said Duffy.
News 4 was able to make contact with an FAA Academy student, who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation if they were identified. The student said that they and their classmates were already about halfway through their training program, and that their superiors informed them to come in on Tuesday with a business-as-usual approach.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens, and we’re just kicking along to keep doing what we’re doing and learn in the best we can,” the student said. “I have that foundation of, of God, so, like, I know who’s going to take care of us, whatever happens.”
Thousands of current air traffic controllers and TSA employees are at risk of potentially having to keep working without getting paid. News 4 reached out to Oklahoma City Airport Director Jeff Mulder for comment on Tuesday about the potential impacts to flights in Oklahoma.
“We don’t expect any short-term impacts with the federal shutdown,” Mulder wrote in an emailed statement. “However, if the shutdown goes for an extended period, we expect impacts since the TSA and FAA employees will not be paid. That may result in longer lines for the security checkpoint.”
News 4 asked the FAA academy student if they’re concerned the shutdown will set them back on their training.
“If we do get set back a little bit, honestly, I think it’ll be just fine just because, you know, we’re in this to be able to work around challenges,” said the student. “So, I think we’re very capable of handling that if that does happen.”
