Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday said the news of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halting flights into LaGuardia Airport was evidence that President Trump is “pushing our airspace to the breaking point” with the government shutdown.
{mosads}”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,” Pelosi tweeted.
“@realDonaldTrump, stop endangering the safety, security and well-being of our nation. Re-open government now!”
The FAA briefly halted flights into LaGuardia Airport in New York City as air traffic controllers work without pay amid the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.
Delays of roughly an hour were also experienced at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport due to staffing shortages.
Air traffic controllers are deemed as essential staff workers and are required to work during shutdowns despite not being paid.
The shutdown has continued amid disagreements between Trump and Democrats over the White House’s demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall.
Two bills to end the shutdown failed on the Senate floor Thursday.
A GOP proposal which included border wall funding only drew the defection of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), falling well below the 60 votes needed to reopen the government.
The Democrats’ plan to pass a clean continuing resolution that would have temporarily ended the shutdown drew support from six Republican senators.
Trump and Pelosi have publicly sparred numerous times over the shutdown.
Pelosi said last week that Trump’s State of the Union speech would have to be rescheduled until after the shutdown is resolved because of security concerns, which the president eventually agreed to do.
In response, Trump canceled congressional delegations from traveling overseas on military flights during the shutdown.