PASCO, Wash. – The ongoing government shutdown is causing significant disruptions in air travel across the country, and the Tri-Cities Airport is feeling the effects. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to cut air traffic by 10 percent at 40 major airports starting tomorrow due to shortages of air traffic controllers. This move follows reports of more than 400 air traffic controller shortages since the shutdown began.

Union leaders say many controllers are not just calling in sick but are also unable to find childcare due to the lack of pay. Both the FAA and the union stressed the importance of addressing these shortages now for safety reasons. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the urgency, saying, “We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manif

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