Partial suspension of government activities brings chaos to air transport in the US
March 21, 2026The air transport sector has been plunged into chaos due to the partial suspension of government activities in the US.
A bill on the financial expenditure for the US Department of Homeland Security was rejected by the Senate last February due to disagreement between the Republican and Democratic parties over the enforcement regulations of the immigration law. As a result, the department has been compelled to partially suspend its activities.
Scores of days have passed since then, but as the problem of expenditure for the department has not been resolved, confusion is getting worse in the air transport sector under its control.
Procedures are being delayed at the airports in New Orleans and Houston, forcing travellers to wait for over three hours, and airliner services are being delayed for almost one hour at the airports in New York.
At some airports, travellers are reportedly waiting in queue for formalities stretching from the terminals to the car parks, while flights are being reduced owing to staff shortages.
The Republican and Democratic parties are shifting the blame for the protracted partial suspension onto one another.
KCNA-THE PYONGYANG TIMES