Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced measures to reduce risks in the air amid a strain on air traffic controllers and other airport personnel, including reducing air traffic by 10% at 40 of the nation's airports. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr. and Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
"I don't question Secretary Duffy," Kaine added. "He wants to make sure that flights are safe."
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., had a much more sinister view about Duffy's motivations for compelling a reduction in air traffic ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday. According to Coons, the new directive is an attempt by the Trump administration to "pressure" Democrats to reopen the government without their demands on Obamacare being met.
Coons argued that air traffic controllers and other airport personnel have been facing strains since before the shutdown due to cuts from the president's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.
"I think it's appropriate for us to focus on improving air safety. It is more urgent for us to focus on the health care cliff that is impacting millions of Americans," Coons told reporters Thursday following Duffy's announcement. "My impression is this is another attempt at putting pressure on Congress to reopen the government," Coons added.
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Coons was not the only congressional Democrat to chastise the Trump administration for the decision. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., called the move to order a reduction in flights "unprecedented" and insisted the move demanded "more transparency."
"The FAA must immediately share any safety risk assessment and related data that this decision is predicated on with Congress," Larsen said after news of the reduction. "If we want to resolve issues in the National Airspace System, let us fix health care, open government and pay air traffic controllers."
Travelers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Earlier this week, the travel industry trade group sent a letter to leaders in Congress warning of long-term economic impacts that could hurt American workers, businesses and the economy amid the Thanksgiving holiday if the current government shutdown does not come to an end soon.
The letter, undersigned by hundreds of tourism and travel industry groups, also warned those planning to fly this Thanksgiving holiday that they could face higher costs and increased wait times, delays and cancellations that could derail family travel plans across the country, if the government shutdown doesn't end before Thanksgiving arrives.
"Last year, during Thanksgiving week, over 20 million passengers took flights in the United States. Thanksgiving is not only a time of national tradition and family connection, but also one of the most economically important travel weeks of the year," the letter states. "The cost of continued inaction will be felt by families, workers, businesses, and communities in every part of the country."
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