KCI prepares as government shutdown continues
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Passenger operations at Kansas City International Airport have been unaffected by the government shutdown so far, but KC's Aviation Department says it's preparing for "any possibilities" after a week of gridlock in Congress.
Why it matters: Data from previous long-lasting shutdowns suggests the impact on essential workers tends to trickle into day-to-day operations as funding remains at bay.
The big picture: Essential workers, like air traffic controllers and TSA agents, are required to report to work without paychecks.
- Though employees receive back pay after funding starts flowing again, they bear the immediate brunt of a lack of cash.
Zoom in: The majority of federal aviation workers at KCI "are essential and therefore will still be reporting to work," according to Melissa Cooper, director of the Kansas City Aviation Department.
Between the lines: During the 35-day shutdown in 2019, hundreds of TSA officers called in sick, resulting in high absence rates and major airport disruptions.
- TSA is already facing nationwide shortages, and earlier this year, air traffic control facilities were nearly 2,000 employees short of the FAA's staffing goal.
What they're saying: "Aviation leadership are in conversation with federal partners over the lapse in funding and how that may impact work down the line," Cooper tells Axios. "MCI is preparing for any possibilities with federal staffing."
Zoom out: Airlines for America, a lobbying group that represents major airline carriers, warned Congress that the system may "need to slow down, reducing efficiency."
Go deeper: How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life