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Congressman Dan Kildee Meets with Local Federal Workers Working Without Pay During Government Shutdown

January 14, 2019

Flint Air Traffic Controllers Share their Concerns with Congressman Kildee

FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today met with local-area air traffic controllers in Flint to hear first-hand how the ongoing government shutdown is affecting them and their families.

"Air traffic controllers keep us safe every day. Their jobs keep our country running and our economy growing. I am grateful that local workers took time to talk to me and highlight how the ongoing government shutdown is affecting them and their families," said Congressman Kildee. "Their professionalism showing up to work every day without pay stands in stark contrast to the President's inability to do his job and work with Congress. It is wrong for the President and Congress to punish federal workers over disagreements about the federal budget. The House has already acted on bills to end this government shutdown. It is time for the President to end this manufactured crisis."

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Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) meets with local air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the government shutdown.

Because of the ongoing government shutdown, air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and other workers have been working without pay for 24 days. Additionally, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delayed investigations into plane crashes, including recent accidents in Michigan.

800,000 federal workers who were supposed to receive paychecks Friday did not receive any pay. Additionally, 400,000 federal workers continue to work without pay, including TSA agents, food safety inspectors and border patrol agents. There are more than 5,200 federal workers in Michigan who are currently furloughed or working without pay.

According to new analysis by S&P Global, the ongoing government shutdown has cost the economy $3.6 billion. For each additional week where the government remains shut down, experts say that it could cost the U.S. economy $1.2 billion of real gross domestic product (GDP).

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