WHEATON, Ill. — A group of air traffic controllers and their families got a standing ovation in suburban Wheaton on Saturday at the ceremonial swearing in of new U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6).
Ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, President Donald Trump on Friday signed a short-term measure to fund the government for three weeks. No money has been allocated for Trump’s desired border wall.
Congress now has three weeks to come up with a new plan. For many federal workers, the clock is ticking.
“There is no time ever that it’s right for our profession to be used as a political football,” air traffic controller Toby Hauck said.
After 35 days of working without pay, Hauck said he and his colleagues never want to be in that position again: “The stress is monumental.”
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is on the committee working to strike a deal on border security.
“I think we can find some common ground,” he said. “I think we’ve made it clear we’re not going to give [the president] a wall.”
Durbin told the crowd Saturday he plans to work on passing new legislation that would prevent future government shutdowns.
