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Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) (from left), Duffy, Johnson and Graves appear at a news conference at the Capitol on Oct. 23. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg)

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The top congressional transportation policymaker and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised concerns linked to the ongoing federal shutdown.

On Oct. 23, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and fellow Republicans in calling on Democrats on Capitol Hill to sign off on legislation that would reopen federal agencies. Duffy also took part in a press conference that marked the 23rd day of the shutdown.

The Missouri Republican argued a prolonged partial shutdown — which began Oct. 1 — is becoming a distraction for the federal workforce and it has the potential to disrupt the country’s transportation system. Emphasizing federal and local transportation modes are currently safe, the chairman told Capitol Hill reporters, “As the speaker pointed out, this is political gamesmanship on Sen. [Chuck] Schumer’s part. And it is unfortunate that he is weaponizing the air traffic controllers and he is weaponizing families as we go into the holiday season when it comes to those delays that will ultimately probably happen — the cancellations that are probably going to happen.”

Graves, pointing to a House-passed short-term funding bill that has failed in the Senate, continued, “And as the secretary pointed out we need to remember who it is that is causing this. And why they are causing this. This is political games. All we need to do is pass the clean [continuing resolution], so we can move forward and then talk about these things that need to be talked about.”

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Throughout the shutdown, the Republican caucus has blamed Democrats for the ongoing impasse. “They’re perfectly OK with real pain being felt by real Americans as long as it helps their political agenda as they see it,” Johnson claimed.

Democrats in Congress, led by Schumer and New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, maintain their opposition to funding legislation that lacks provisions designed to extend existing federal subsidies that defray the cost of some Americans’ health care coverage premiums. They aim to advance such extensions as part of any future funding negotiations.

“Republicans have basically made the decision to shut the government down, to keep it closed, because they’d rather do that than actually provide affordable healthcare to the American people,” Jeffries said recently.

Duffy, the nation’s top transportation officer, also decried the ongoing shutdown. Similar to Graves’ argument about potential disruptions, the secretary stressed the case for bringing back federal agencies at full strength.

“Open up your government,” Duffy said, directing his remarks to congressional Democrats. “Open it up. It’s easy. And then sit down and negotiate; have a conversation. But to allow the radical element in the Senate to hold America hostage I think would be shameful. That’s not how we operate. We don’t negotiate when that is the structure set by Democrats.”

In an editorial published Oct. 23, Duffy sought to clarify the state of play for air travel during the shutdown. “While we’ve recently seen a slight increase in the number of controllers calling out sick, the Federal Aviation Administration will not permit planes to fly if the airspace is unsafe. But the position Democrats are putting them [in] is wrong, and it will exacerbate the challenges facing our airspace today.”

“More controller shortages will mean long airport lines, delayed flights, canceled trips and increasing disruptions for the flying public,” Duffy wrote.

DOT announced more than 11,000 would be furloughed at the FAA during the shutdown, but agencies with jurisdiction over commercial transportation are not scheduled to furlough employees.

This month, the Republican-led Senate repeatedly fell short of requisite votes to clear short-term federal funding legislation. The House has chosen to remain in recess during the shutdown. The White House has yet to schedule new rounds of bipartisan meetings with congressional leaders.