Major U.S. airlines have started to openly plead with Congress to end a government shutdown that entered its 29th day on Thursday.

“Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement sent to Gizmodo.

In the event of a government shutdown, many federal employees lose their jobs. But some that are considered essential to the protection of life and property, like air traffic controllers and TSA, are required to work without pay or additional support staff.

These workers got a reduced paycheck earlier this month, because the shutdo

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