WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that if the government shutdown drags into next week, there will be “mass chaos” for air travelers — and blamed congressional Democrats for the looming catastrophe.
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays,” Duffy told reporters.
“You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it.”
Senate Democrats have voted 13 times against a stopgap measure funding the government at current levels until Nov. 21, in hopes of getting concessions from Republicans to extend health care subsidies set to expire at the end of this year.
The Affordable Care Act tax credits and other provisions to lower health care premiums for Americans were expanded under former President Joe Biden and passed under former President Barack Obama.
Both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have pressed moderate Democratic senators to break ranks with their caucus and vote to reopen the government as the federal shutdown stretches into its second month.
