(The Hill) -- Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) on Thursday proposed that the city will pay air traffic controllers as they go without paychecks due to the government shutdown.

Johnston's proposal would need to be permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Politico reported. The city requested a waiver to pay air traffic controllers at Denver International Airport but has not received a response yet.

The Hill reached out to Johnston's office and the FAA for comment. An automated email from the FAA's press office said it was not responding to media inquiries but attached a statement citing Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

"As Secretary Duffy has said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system," the automated email read. "When that happens, the FAA sl

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