Sean Duffy explained the necessity of this step due to safety-related issues. During the shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees are forced to work without pay, leading many of them to take sick leave more frequently or seek additional sources of income.
Since the beginning of the shutdown, there have already been numerous flight delays, affecting about 3.2 million passengers due to the shortage of air traffic controllers.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has become the longest in U.S. history. It is estimated that the country's economy is losing nearly two billion dollars each week due to this situation.
The disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over funding issues, particularly concerning health insurance and benefits, have resulted in Congress being unable to reach an agreement.
