Shutdown causes long airport waits
Air travellers endured waits of more than an hour yesterday to get through domestic checkpoints at the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta.
It was the first business day after security screeners missed pay for the first time due to partial government shutdown.
No-shows among screeners across the US soared on Monday and again yesterday, when the Transportation Security Administration reported a national absence rate of 7.6 per cent, compared with 3.2 per cent on the comparable day a year ago.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reported the long lines on its website, showing the hourplus waits at all three checkpoints in the domestic terminal.
“It’s chaos out here,” passenger Vincent Smith said as he stood in a line that snaked through the Atlanta airport’s atrium and baggage claim areas. “This line, I’ve been here about 15 minutes and it has moved 2 feet.” TSA is working with the Atlanta airport and airlines “to maximise all available operational resources at the airport,” TSA spokesman Jim Gregory said.
The agency is working with airports and airlines to consolidate operations and get the most out of resources, Gregory added.
But Smith said he could relate to government workers who don’t show up so they can find other ways to US President Donald Trump said a month ago that he’d gladly take the blame for a government shutdown over his proposed border wall. Polls show he’s getting it.
Six surveys taken since the closure began last month tell a consistent story — half or more Americans believe Trump and his party are responsible for the shutdown, while one-third or fewer blame Democrats. ● A Quinnipiac University poll found
make ends meet. “If I was a government worker, yes, I would probably call in and try to do something else because creditors don’t care if you’re furloughed or not. They just want to get paid.”
A bipartisan group of rank-and-file senators is planning to hold discussions on how to end the weekslong that 56 per cent of Americans blame Trump and Republicans, while 36 per cent fault Democrats.
● A Washington Post/ABC poll found that 53 per cent say Trump and Republicans are to blame, while 29 per cent point the finger at Democrats.
● A CNN poll showed that 55 per cent blame Trump and Republicans, while 32 per cent blame Democrats.
● A CBS/YouGov survey said 47 per
government shutdown, with talks between congressional leaders and the White House at a standstill.
Prospects for the group to achieve any results are uncertain. But the group’s creation is a sign senators of both parties are eager to end the shutdown, even if it means taking matters into their own hands amid an cent blame Trump, 3 per cent blame Republicans, and 30 per cent blame Democrats.
● A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 51 per cent blame Trump, 7 per cent blame Republicans and 32 per cent fault Democrats.
● A Politico/Morning Consult poll found that 47 per cent blame Trump, 5 per cent blame Republicans and 33 per cent blame Democrats. impasse between top Democrats and Donald Trump. With the shutdown entering its fourth week, the US President remains dug in on his demands for US$5.7 billion to build hundreds of new walls along the US-Mexico border. Democrats are refusing to give him anywhere near that amount.
— AP, Washington Post