The Shutdown Is Pushing Air Safety Workers to the Limit

Federal employees say that flying is still safe despite the strain on air traffic controllers. But expect even more airport delays ahead. It hasn't been a good year for federal aviation safety workers. January saw the worst US commercial airline disaster in decades, quickly followed by sudden layoffs, staffing shortfalls, major technology glitches at one of the nation's busiest airports, and short timelines to rebuild the systems that govern national airspace. It somehow got worse this month, when a stalemate between congressional Republicans and Democrats led to a government shutdown.