Delta calls on Congress to immediately end government shutdown, pay air traffic controllers

Core Points - The U.S. government shutdown has led to air traffic controllers missing their first full paychecks, increasing stress among essential workers [2][3] - Delta Airlines has urged Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government and ensure air traffic controllers are paid [2] - The ongoing shutdown has exacerbated a staffing shortage, with 3,800 fewer fully certified controllers than the FAA's target [3] Economic Impact - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a four-week shutdown could cost the economy at least $7 billion, with costs rising to $11 billion for six weeks and $14 billion for eight weeks [5] - Although there have been flight delays at several U.S. airports, the disruptions have not reached the severity seen during the longest shutdown from late 2018 to early 2019 [6] Safety Concerns - The shutdown is causing air traffic controllers to shift their focus from safety tasks to financial uncertainties, which could compromise the safety of the National Airspace System [4]