NW Kansas News

Nine days into the ongoing federal government shutdown, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, addressed the Senate about what he described as severe consequences for the U.S. aviation system.

Moran said, “The failure to pass a continuing resolution is slowly crushing our aviation system. Our system is too fragile, and the stakes are too high for us to continue operating the national aviation system in the manner we are doing so. We will reach a breaking point, and this could result in the closing of our airspace or portions of it.”

He noted that bipartisan efforts earlier in 2025 aimed to improve safety within the aviation sector have been hindered by the shutdown. “We set out earlier this year, in a bipartisan manner, to transform our aviation system and to make it safer for everyone. But that work is significantly hindered without an open and functioning government,” Moran said. He added, “Every day we remain in a shutdown, the air traffic controller shortage gets worse and the strain on the aviation system intensifies. Our system has a breaking point, and I hope that this dysfunction we are undergoing, I hope it stops before we see dramatic and damaging consequences.”

Referring to a fatal crash on January 29 involving a flight from Wichita, Kansas to Washington D.C., which resulted in 67 deaths, Moran stressed ongoing risks: “There are consequences to the position we’ve allowed ourselves to get in, and it affects the safety of Americans every day,” he said. “Having experienced the loss of life from the flight on January the 29th...we should be doing everything we can to make certain that our air traffic system and necessary components are in place...A shutdown makes absolutely no sense for the benefit of America. I urge my Democratic colleagues to act now to pass this short-term continuing resolution so we can alleviate pressures on our aviation system...and provide much-needed certainty and stability for our nation.”

In March 2025, Moran introduced legislation called The Aviation Funding Stability Act intended to allow continued Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations during funding lapses by permitting access to resources from an existing trust fund.

During his remarks on the Senate floor, Moran emphasized how disruptions affect both travelers and workers within aviation: “Government shutdowns are detrimental to some of our most basic functions of government, and our already fragile air traffic control system is facing strain from this occurrence.” He reiterated concerns about rural communities reliant on programs like Essential Air Service—which supports commercial flights at five airports across Kansas—being particularly vulnerable if federal support stalls.

Moran highlighted previous congressional actions including advancing fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills with more than $22 billion designated for FAA operations—including $5 billion targeted at modernizing equipment—and funding for hiring additional air traffic controllers.

He concluded by urging swift passage of a continuing resolution: “I don’t know when a shutdown makes sense...a short-term clean CR for a few more weeks...makes absolutely no sense for America’s benefit.”