U.S. sees air safety risks as government shutdown hurts flying

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he’d close U.S. airspace if officials determined air travel was dangerous, as the government shutdown stretches into its second month.

“If we thought that it was unsafe, we’ll shut the whole airspace down,” Duffy said on Monday in an interview with CNBC. He said that the U.S. isn’t there yet but the shutdown adds more risk to the aviation system.

The Federal Aviation Administration was forced to slow traffic at many airports last week due to rising controller staffing shortages since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1. Air traffic controllers continue to work without pay.

The disruptions spilled through the weekend, with the FAA temporarily halting flights into Newark Liberty International Airport near New York on Sunday evening