WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump accused “kamikaze” Democrats of being prepared to destroy the country as the government shutdown became the longest in history on Wednesday (Nov 5), eclipsing the 35-day record set during the Republican leader’s first term.
Federal agencies have been grinding to a halt since Congress failed to approve funding past Sep 30, and the pain has been mounting as welfare programs – including aid that helps millions of Americans afford groceries – hang in the balance.
About 1.4 million federal workers, from air traffic controllers to park wardens, remain on enforced leave or are working without pay. Some courts are using emergency funds to stay open, warning that operations could slow if the shutdown drags on.
“I just got back from Japan,” the 79-year-old president told a breakfast meeting with Republican senators at the White House as the shutdown entered its sixth week.
“I talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze,” he said, referencing Democrats. “They’ll take down the country if they have to.”
Before the shutdown record toppled at midnight, the Trump administration sounded the alarm over turmoil at airports nationwide if the crisis drags further into November, with worsening staff shortages snarling flights and closing down sections of airspace.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference Wednesday that the scheduled capacity for flights was being cut by 10 per cent starting Friday in 40 busy air traffic areas.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) says 5.3 million passengers flew domestically over the Thanksgiving weekend in 2023, and gave a projected figure of 5.7 million for last year’s holiday, which it is due to update later this month.
More than 60,000 air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay, and the White House has warned that increased absenteeism could mean chaos at check-in lines.
Airport workers calling in sick rather than working without pay – leading to significant delays – was a major factor in Trump bringing an end to the 2019 shutdown.
Both Democrats and Republicans remain unwavering, however, over the main sticking point in the current stoppage – health care spending.