Congress Fails to Reauthorize FAA
"I'm very disappointed that Congress adjourned today without passing a clean extension of the FAA bill," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release posted on FAA's Facebook site.
As many as 4,000 employees of the Federal Avaition Administration are being furloughed starting at midnight July 23 because Congress adjourned for the week on July 22 without passing a reauthorization extension. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt criticized the failure to act. Air traffic controllers will remain on the job, but airport projects in several states will stop, LaHood said.
"I'm very disappointed that Congress adjourned today without passing a clean extension of the FAA bill," LaHood said in a news release posted on FAA's Facebook site. "Because of their inaction, states and airports won’t be able to work on their construction projects, and too many people will have to go without a paycheck. This is no way to run the best aviation system in the world."
"The FAA employees who will be furloughed perform critical work for our nation's aviation system and our economy," Babbitt added. "These are real people with families who do not deserve to be put out of work during these tough economic times."
The release listed several airport improvement projects that will be affected. It says up to 4,000 FAA employees in 35 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico will be furloughed. "Large numbers of employees in New Jersey, New York, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Illinois and the District of Columbia will be affected. This includes many of FAA’s engineers, scientists, research analysts, administrative assistants, computer specialists, program managers and analysts, environmental protection specialists, and community planners," it says.