The shutdown just entered a new phase. Air traffic is being impacted. Delays are reported at Newark and Philadelphia airports and New York’s LaGuardia temporarily halted inbound and outbound flights. NBC New York reports:
A ground stop has been ordered at LaGuardia Airport because of a staffing shortage related to sick calls, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday.
The stop was ordered shortly before 10 a.m. Some arriving flights are also being delayed; the FAA reports an average of 41 minute delays for LaGuardia-bound flights out of Newark International and Philadelphia International airports.
JUST IN: FAA releases statement amid air traffic delays at LGA, EWR, PHL; agency says it has "experienced a slight increase in sick leave at two facilities" https://t.co/jzYjmherf9 pic.twitter.com/HPDTCEfM9d
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 25, 2019
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reacted to this news on Twitter.
The #TrumpShutdown has already pushed hundreds of thousands of Americans to the breaking point. Now it's pushing our airspace to the breaking point too.
.@realDonaldTrump, stop endangering the safety, security and well-being of our nation. Re-open government now!
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 25, 2019