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While Raleigh-Durham International Airport has seemingly avoided heavy delays due to the government shutdown, the people responsible for keeping people safe are working without pay. They missed their first full paycheck this week.
Lara Goldmark flew into RDU from Texas for a conference this weekend. However, she said she experienced multiple delays, and at least one of her bags didn’t make it onto the flight.
“Due to FAA air traffic control staffing shortages, the number of flights in and out of Houston is limited to safely manage the airspace around the airport,” reads a text message from United Airlines to Goldmark. “This may affect operations, potentially leading to delays, longer taxi times, and flight crew adjustments for all airlines.”
Federal aviation workers, from air traffic controllers to TSA agents, are without paychecks to reflect their work to keep passengers safe.
“These TSA employees come to work every day to do their job: protect the flying public. We simply ask Congress and this administration to do their job,” said Mac Johnson, the local president for the American Federation of Government Employees.
He pointed out that the zero-dollar paychecks come as funding for food assistance programs is also in limbo.
“Not only are they not getting paid; they are not receiving those SNAP benefits,” Johnson told WRAL.
The Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, based in Wake Forest, posted on social media about the increased need for food assistance during the shutdown.
“Today we served 173 families—20 were first-time visitors, including a TSA employee still in uniform who had no food at home for a family of five,” according to the post dated Oct. 22.
Johnson said the union has already started providing meals to impacted workers in airports in southern Virginia and parts of North Carolina, like Asheville. He said he plans to do the same for employees at RDU by next week.
He said the union can also assist with other needs, like diapers.
Some airlines are also offering help. United, American and Delta are offering meals to controllers and other federal workers. Southwest is donating food and thousands of dollars to a GoFundMe campaign.
RDU officials directed questions about the shutdown’s impact on federal agencies. In a statement via email, it said:
“As for tips for travelers, those planning to fly should stay in close communication with their airline. RDU recommends downloading your airline’s app to confirm that your contact information is current in your travel profile. This ensures you receive real-time updates about any delays or impacts caused by staffing fluctuations at TSA or FAA. The Airport Authority will continue its efforts to assist federal workers during the government shutdown.”
A solution to the shutdown is not clear at this point.
“I think it’s going to affect staffing at the airports, creating longer lines at the checkpoints,” Johnson said.
He emphasized that if employees do start calling out, it is likely not because they want to.
“They can’t come to work if they don’t have gas,” Johnson said.
WRAL asked for an interview with TSA directly, but we received an automatic out-of-office email from the spokesperson.
It reads: “I am out of the office due to the current federal funding hiatus. I will not be able to return emails or telephone calls until I return to duty upon conclusion of the funding hiatus.”
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