Hakeem Jeffries blames Trump as ground stop disrupts operations at New York’s busiest airport

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As the John F Kennedy International Airport came to a standstill due to staffing shortages and operational issues, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday shifted the blame away from his party.

Instead of taking the responsibility, he placed the blame directly on President Donald Trump, accusing him of blocking bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown. 

Hakeem Jeffries plays the blame game amid shutdown

Flights across New York City faced major disruptions on Friday, October 31, as the Federal Aviation Administration imposed traffic restrictions and a ground stop at JFK Airport due to staffing shortages and strong winds, worsened by the ongoing government shutdown. 

During his appearance on CNN’s ‘The Arena’, Jeffries was asked about growing concerns over air traffic control staffing and potential safety risks for travellers in his state. Instead of addressing those concerns, he shifted the blame to Trump.

“Well, I’m very concerned with all of the harmful effects of the shutdown, the fact that our air traffic controllers, many hard workers, and federal employees, TSA agents are being asked to work without pay. This is the reason why Donald Trump needs to get serious about sitting down and finding a path toward a bipartisan agreement,” Jeffries said.

He went on to call the budget deadlock the “Trump Republican shutdown.”

“Donald Trump has spent more time on the golf course than he has talking with Democrats who represent half the country. He spent more time talking to Hamas over the last 31 days than he has with Democrats, who represent half the country,” Jeffries said.

“He spent more time talking to the Chinese Communist Party than he has talking with Democrats as part of an effort to reopen the government to enact a spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people and that addresses the Republican health care crisis that is hurting working class Americans.”

Nationwide flight disruptions worsen

Flights across the country had already begun facing disruptions, with Newark Liberty International Airport issuing a 75-minute ground stop on Wednesday, October 29, due to staffing shortages from the federal shutdown.

Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers missed their first full paychecks on Tuesday, October 28, adding pressure to the already understaffed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has struggled with shortages for decades and worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Democrats block GOP bill as FAA staffing crisis worsens

Senate Democrats voted 13 times to block a GOP-backed bipartisan measure to reopen the government, even as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA is short 3,000 employees and said controllers are “wearing thin.” 

“Just yesterday, we had 22 staffing triggers. That’s one of the highest that we’ve seen in the system since the shutdown began, and that’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin. And again, they’re taking second jobs. They’re out there looking. ‘Can I drive Uber? Can I find another source of income?” Duffy said on Fox News on Sunday.