Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Oct 7: The United States is now one week into its first federal government shutdown in seven years, with growing disruption to essential services, travel, and public institutions. Major airports across the country are experiencing flight delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, with reports of staffing gaps at facilities in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington, DC, Newark, and Jacksonville.

At California’s Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, a pilot preparing for takeoff was met with an unexpected response over the radio: “The tower is closed due to staffing,” according to audio published by LiveATC.net — a stark illustration of the operational strain now affecting the aviation sector.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly blamed Democrats for the ongoing crisis, accusing them of endangering the welfare of air traffic controllers and their families. “Our air traffic control workforce deserves to go to work, get paid, and not have the distraction of a government shutdown,” Duffy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Around 13,000 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, while others involved in training and hiring have seen their work paused indefinitely.

The shutdown has also threatened a federal subsidy program supporting rural air travel, which Duffy warned could run out of funds by week’s end if the impasse isn’t resolved. “Small communities will lose access to essential air service,” he added.

President Donald Trump, facing mounting pressure over the standoff, indicated a willingness to negotiate. In a post on Truth Social, he said, “I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open.” Trump later told reporters that talks on healthcare reforms were underway, though no breakthrough has been announced.

At the heart of the political deadlock is a dispute over healthcare provisions. Republicans accuse Democrats of pushing for subsidies that would benefit undocumented immigrants — a claim Democrats flatly deny. Instead, they argue their demands are focused on restoring recent cuts to healthcare benefits for American citizens under a bill passed earlier this year.

The shutdown's impact is also being felt far beyond Washington’s corridors of power. Roughly two-thirds of National Park Service staff have been furloughed, forcing the closure of major tourist attractions, including Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands in New Mexico, and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

In the capital, cultural institutions and historical landmarks have gone dark. The Library of Congress, National Archives Museum, Washington Monument, and National Arboretum are closed, with public tours of the Capitol and Pentagon suspended. The Smithsonian Institution has announced that its museums and the National Zoo will remain open only through October 11, depending on available funds.

This marks the first US government shutdown since 2018–2019, when a budget impasse during President Trump’s first term led to a 35-day closure — the longest in American history. With no resolution in sight, concerns are mounting over the economic and social toll this shutdown could take if it stretches into the coming weeks.