This transcript excerpt records leaders (Teamsters, airlines, pilot associations) urging Congress to end a government shutdown because federal employees — including recent FAA hires — are missing paychecks. Speakers emphasize immediate harm to families and call for a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government and restore pay.\n
Today is important because it's the first payroll period where people are going without a check. And we want to make sure that no family is left behind and that Congress gets back in that room and makes the deal that they should have made a long time ago.
I'm here to advocate for the many folks that are going without a paycheck right now that are federal employees charged with keeping our skies safe.
We hope that this comes to a conclusion really soon. People are suffering.
I met someone yesterday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He's been with the FAA for three months. Moved to Tulsa, moved his family there. They have a newborn baby, and now he's not getting a paycheck. And that hurts people.
Hurts people where.
They live, literally.
We're all here with the same goal. We want members of Congress to come together to pass a CR and get the government open so these folks don't have those distractions on their plate.
I really appreciate the leadership of the White House, the President, Vice President, Secretary Duffy. It's extremely important what all of you are doing in your leadership, and we really appreciate you bringing all of us together to hopefully end the government shutdown.