The longest government shutdown in history is grounding flights as some unpaid air traffic controllers and TSA screeners stay home. Essential aviation services remain trapped in Washington’s budget dysfunction.
Cato scholar Chris Edwards offers a solution: separate air traffic control and airport screening from the federal budget.
Moving ATC into a self-funded organization would provide funding stability regardless of political battles. Privatization based on the Canadian model would encourage innovation and end the chaos that occurs whenever budget negotiations fail. Similarly, devolving screening to airport control would save travelers from DC dysfunction.
Americans need an aviation system insulated from political gridlock.
If you’d like to speak with Edwards, please reach out to Madison: mmiller@cato.org.
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