The US government shutdown has entered its seventh day, with flight delays reported across multiple airports nationwide.

Flights were delayed at airports in New York, Denver and Los Angeles due to shortages of air traffic controllers. Staffing shortages are also being reported in Washington, DC, Newark, New Jersey, and Jacksonville, Florida.

A pilot was preparing to take off from Hollywood Burbank Airport in California Monday and radioed the air traffic control tower. Instead of the normal exchange about departure, the pilot was told, “The tower is closed due to staffing,” according to audio recorded by LiveATC.net.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed the Democrats for the crisis, saying that the opposition party is threatening the well-being of air traffic controllers and their

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