Vice President JD Vance speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington D.C. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)
"On behalf of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and our 4,400 members in the Unites States representing the aircraft maintenance technicians at Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Horizon Air, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines, we urge Congress to end the government shutdown by passing a clean Continuing Resolution," Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National President Bret Oestreich said in a press release published Wednesday.
"We stand with our brothers and sisters in air traffic control and TSA who continue to ensure the safety of the flying public while working for no pay," he continued. "It’s time for Congress to reconvene in a bipartisan manner to pass a clean CR and support all the men and women in aviation who contribute to the safest National Airspace System for us all to travel."
The government shutdown has persisted since Oct. 1, when Senate lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement before a midnight deadline. The Trump administration and Republicans have since pinned blame for the shutdown on Democrats, claiming they worked to include taxpayer-funded medical benefits for illegal immigrants. Democrats have denied the claims and argue that Republicans refused negotiate on healthcare demands.
"We need to end this shutdown as soon as possible. Every day that Republicans refuse to negotiate to end this shutdown the worse it gets for Americans, and the clearer it becomes who’s fighting for them," Senate Minority Leader said in floor remarks on Oct. 9.
Vance has hammered the argument that Democrats are to blame for the shutdown, including during his remarks at a Turning Point USA event Wednesday at Ole Miss.
Passenger planes wait in line for take off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The shutdown has rocked families as they prepare to temporarily lose federal food assistance, while small business owners are losing out on billions in Small Business Administration-backed funding, and an estimated 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed.
AMERICANS COULD FACE AIRPORT CHAOS IF DEMS DON'T END SHUTDOWN, TRUMP OFFICIAL WARNS
As for air travel, massive hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Newark, New Jersey have seen delays in recent weeks, as air traffic controllers, who are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration, cope with staffing shortages.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, speaks during a press conference at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on October 28. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Air traffic controllers lost their first full paychecks beginning on Tuesday.
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"I've made clear to our air traffic controllers: they need to show up for work. They do really important work for our country, and they need to show up. But I'm not going to lie to anybody to not say that they're not feeling the stress," Department of Transportation chief Duffy said during a press conference at LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday. "The fact that they are working, and oftentimes, they are head of households, they're the only income earners in their homes, and they have families, and they're having a hard time paying their bills."
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