Rep. Nicholas Begich pictured next to the Anchorage airport in Alaska. (Michael Siluk/Getty; Bill Clark/Getty)
"Right now, some of our coastal communities are already struggling to get groceries and basic supplies because extreme weather has limited marine transportation. If aviation capacity continues to be disrupted, those challenges will only worsen," he said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Thursday that he expected U.S. flight capacity to fall by 10% over the next few days at 40 of the country’s busiest airports, compounding an already-existing slowdown across the country.
Many air traffic controllers and TSA agents have been asked to work without pay for over a month during the government shutdown, prompting a growing number to call out or find alternative sources of revenue. According to FlightAware, an online flight tracking service, air travel in the U.S. had reported 2,992 delays and 56 flight cancellations by 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.
"This is data-based," Duffy said. "This is about: where’s the pressure? How do we alleviate the pressure."
SEAN DUFFY WARNS OF RECORD STRAIN ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AHEAD OF FIRST MISSED PAYCHECK
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talk with reporters following their meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the government funding crisis, at the Capitol, Sept. 29, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
"We need a full and complete briefing so we can understand from the administration what the current status is," Jeffries said.
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Democrats led by Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have rejected a short-term spending bill 14 times, demanding lawmakers first address an expiring healthcare subsidies program.
The shutdown became the longest in history earlier this week.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-lawmaker-warns-possible-food-medicine-shortages-flights-grounded