Partial FAA shutdown leads to 4,000 furloughs, halts airport construction

By Aaron Karp | July 26, 2011

US FAA said Monday that "dozens of stop work orders" have been issued on airport construction projects around the country as a result of the partial shutdown of the agency that started Saturday. An impasse in Congress over passing the 21st temporary funding extension since FAA's long-term authorization expired Sept. 30, 2007, led to a lapse in authority for many of the agency's functions. ATC is not affected, though the US government can't collect about $30 million daily in federal taxes on airline tickets.

The Senate and House of Representatives passed disparate FAA reauthorization bills earlier this year and have been unable to reach agreement on unified legislation that both chambers could send to President Barack Obama for signature into law (ATW's Airports Today, July 5). Last week, House Republicans attached to the latest proposed extension cuts to Essential Air Service subsidies for airline flights to rural communities (about 10 airports would lose service). But the Senate, led by Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), balked.

When Congress adjourned Friday with no action taken, a partial shutdown ensued, leading to the immediate furlough of nearly 4,000 FAA workers. The agency said thousands of more contract workers around the country are affected by the disruption to the Airport Improvement Program that helps fund numerous airport construction projects.

"Congress needs to pass an FAA bill to prevent further economic damage," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a Monday statement. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt added, "Work is stopping on construction and planning projects, NextGen system testing and airport certification. The list goes on and on, and this is just the beginning."

FAA noted that AIP "is unable to operate without Congressional authorization and as a result the FAA is unable to get roughly $2.5 billion out the door for airport projects in all 50 states that could put thousands of people to work in good paying jobs."

The agency emphasized that "safety of the flying public will not be compromised" by the partial shutdown.

Discuss this news 12

25 Jul20:23

What a financial mess the US

By Anonymous

What a financial mess the US is in after the Greenspan years. It will take many years to pull out of the financial dive. Future generations are going to be saddled with the debt.

25 Jul21:06

should tell you something

By clint eichelberger

should tell you something like maybe these extra employees of uncle sam may not be needed anyway if they are expendible at this time.most construction project are not needed either.example...i seen construction job for va that didn t do anything to help the vets being done because if the dept didn t use the money they didn t get it following year from congress..no wonder my taxes are so high

25 Jul23:27

Yeah, we don't need any new

By Anonymous

Yeah, we don't need any new runways or airport modernization. Air travel is so insignificant.

26 Jul01:01

Hey John, Is FAA closing down

By Edgar Gomes

Hey John,

Is FAA closing down ? What next ?

26 Jul03:42

Greenspan aided and abetted

By Anonymous

Greenspan aided and abetted by George Bush who will go down in history as one of the worst and incompetent Presidents. Infrastructure in the US is now of a low standard.

26 Jul06:10

The financial mess of the US

By no-doz

The financial mess of the US is due to one ... party refusing to properly fund government. They live in a fantasy world that you can live in a great country and not pay your fair share. That FAA funding is politicized by Republicans show that they are desperate that the US become as broken down as any Third World country. If billionaires paid their fair share of taxes, we'd be able to have the modern air transport system we deserve.

26 Jul08:23

Blame the party of 'NO'! This

By Richard

Blame the party of 'NO'! This is the beginning of the end, if people employed in Congress to pass bills cannot even do it in time over so many months due to selfish politicking.

26 Jul12:36

... Everyone wants a

By Anonymous

... Everyone wants a functioning government but if they see one example of "inefficiency" they justify tax cuts for billionares (and hopefully themselves). Republicans spend like drunken sailors on wars, tax cuts and boondoggles then say that poor and vulnerable people will have to foot the bill. Democrats are too unorganized to fight for GOOD government. The Empire is crashing all around us. Get used to it.

26 Jul12:43

No Doz et al, you are

By IguanaDC3

No Doz et al, you are incorrect. IRS stat's clearly illustrate ... that taking every dime from every one of the "rich" (whom by the way CREATE jobs, since no poor man's ever signed MY paychecks) would fund our long-bloated Fed' gov't for all of merely ONE DAY. Dem's enjoy preaching their bumper sticker scripts while borrowing billions from China for entitlement programs which have NOTHING to do w/ our infrastructure --- again, per GAO & IRS data. The "politiking" comes just as rancidly from the Left as it does from anywhere else. ...

26 Jul14:08

You don't seem to know much

By steve

You don't seem to know much about airports and air travel by your statement.Airports across the country need upgrading as they have to go through a lengthy review process taking several years to obtain funding while operating with constrained facilities.Many airports need runways made longer,overruns added,navigation systems added and upgraded,and lighting brought up to new standards.
Safety at airports should be a high priority.

26 Jul15:11

So the FAA loses $30 million

By Anonymous

So the FAA loses $30 million a day in revenue, but saves $50 million a day in salaries. The FAA has wasted close to $50 BILLION on what they call "NextGen" since the 1980's. Time for them to be held accountable. They are a broken, dysfunctional agency.

01 Aug15:09

You probable haven't travel

By Anonymous

You probable haven't travel in a while... The puting fence around Dulles Airport is not finished and wild animals are crossing; deer,rabitts. Let's also pray they AIrcraft don't hit on them and get off the runway. ...