At Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), a food bank has begun collecting donations for the 1,500 federal workers affected by the government shutdown, including air traffic controllers and security screeners.

The airport began collecting donations at its pantry on Thursday, Oct. 16, and plans to open Monday morning to distribute essential items for those workers in need.

At the airport, TSA agents and air traffic controllers are still on the job, but they are working without paychecks.

"We decided to do a donation drive, a food and essentials pantry for our federal employees," Luke Nimmo, Public Information Officer for the Clark County Department of Aviation, told the Associated Press.

"We began yesterday, and it's gonna go through Sunday for collections, and then Monday the 20th, we're gonna be opening it up for our federal employees to come get the essentials that they need."

Nimmo noted that during the last major shutdown at Harry Reid Airport, which lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 during Donald Trump's first term, a similar effort was made to support the workers.

This time, they implemented the same approach.

The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second-longest on record, with no end in sight.

Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the previous longest.

Nimmo reports that operations in Las Vegas are currently running smoothly.

However, there are nationwide concerns regarding callouts.

"Las Vegas sees millions of passengers come through our airport, and those federal entities provide vital services for safety and flight safety and airport terminal safety," Nimmo said.

"They provide vital services to our airport and our community to make sure our operations go smoothly and are safe."

He emphasized that if you're flying soon, check your flight status with the airline, as delays or staffing issues at other airports may affect your travel plans.

The Trump administration is using the current shutdown to buttress priorities it favors while seeking to dismantle those it doesn't.

Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that any funding bill include help for millions of Americans who will lose health insurance coverage or face dramatically higher monthly premiums if Congress does nothing.

The shutdown began Oct. 1, and workers don't report to work until the shutdown ends.

Lawmakers acknowledge that many federal workers live paycheck to paycheck and will face some financial stress during the shutdown.

Food banks in many communities have increased their efforts to assist those in need, while previous shutdowns have had minor impacts on the economy.

The U.S. Travel Association said the travel economy is expected to lose $1 billion a week as travelers change plans to visit national parks, historic sites, and the nation's capital, where many facilities such as Smithsonian Institution museums and the National Zoo are now closed to visitors.

The Federal Aviation Administration has reported air controller shortages in cities across the United States, from airports in Boston and Philadelphia to control centers in Atlanta and Houston, leading to flight delays across the country.