Gavin Newsom lashed out at Donald Trump on Monday, holding him responsible for staffing shortages during the government shutdown that left Hollywood Burbank and other airports without air traffic controllers for hours.
Air travelers faced frustrating delays and cancellations Monday evening at Burbank and other U.S. hubs as the government shutdown left air traffic control staff levels stretched thin.
“Thanks, @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15 pm to 10 pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” the Governor of California wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
At Burbank, the control tower was unstaffed for almost six hours, with flight operations instead handled remotely by Southern California TRACON, an approach and departure facility based in San Diego. However, no one in the tower had direct eyes on planes landing and taking off, causing concern among already delayed passengers.
It has been six days since the government shutdown began after the Senate failed to pass a bill to fund federal agencies. On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the shutdown would put more stress on air traffic controllers, whose jobs are already extremely demanding.
In addition to the delays at Burbank, flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed Monday evening, and Denver International Airport also experienced delays.
The Republican and Democrat camps have each blamed one another for the crippling shutdown. The standoff centers around a demand by the Democrats regarding the extension of health care subsidies. If these subsidies are cut, it may result in sharply increased costs for millions of low-income Americans.
Trump has blamed the Democrats for blocking his resolution and stated that Republicans will hold out in the stalemate. Democratic members of Congress, in turn, accused Trump and Republicans of blatantly lying about Democratic opposition to a GOP-led government funding plan, particularly concerning claims that Democrats are pushing for healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants, who cannot legally access federal healthcare programs.
When asked for comment on the shutdown causing travel chaos at airports, the White House press office sent The Independent an automated response reading:
“Please note that responses may be delayed due to the government shutdown caused by congressional Democrats.”
The White House website also features a banner stating “Democrats have shut down the government,” accompanied by a live count of the days and hours since the closure began.
Newsom has been particularly vocal in his efforts to lay the blame for the shutdown at the feet of the Trump administration. Last week, he trolled Trump over news that work will continue on the presidential ballroom despite the government shutdown, comparing him to the historical French queen Marie Antoinette.
“TRUMP MARIE ANTOINETTE SAYS, NO HEALTH CARE FOR YOU PEASANTS, BUT A BALLROOM FOR THE QUEEN!” the California governor’s press office wrote on X, mimicking Trump’s penchant for all-caps social media rants.
During previous U.S. government shutdowns under Barack Obama’s administration, Donald Trump was a vocal critic of the president, saying the situation was “pretty sad” and that “the whole world was laughing at us.”
“Problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top,” he said during a 2013 shutdown. “The president’s the leader and he’s got to get everybody in a room and he’s got to lead.”
https://www.the-independent.com/b2840770.html