SNAFU: Situation Normal, Authorization for FAA Unfunded

After more than a week the FAA remains unfunded.  Congress still has not passed a law that authorizes payment of the FAA’s bills.

As we discussed in this blog a week ago, The FAA Authorization was allowed to lapse at midnight on July 23.  As a consequence, 4000 FAA employees who were deemed “non-essential” were furloughed.  While the newspapers may call these personnel “non-essential,” in many cases they are the safety professionals who are absolutely essential to continued advances in aviation safety.  These people remain out of work, today.  In addition, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) estimates that 70,000 construction workers and workers in related fields have been affected.

This issue seems to have become the victim of bigger stories – the impending debt deal has riveted CNN viewers but it has also distracted the public from the fact that we’ve already stopped funding the FAA.

The FAA posted their own press release on the status update this morning.  In their press release, they implored Members of Congress “not to fly home for the August recess without passing an FAA bill.”

• FAA Press Release: Transportation Secretary LaHood, FAA Administrator Babbitt Visit Shut Down LaGuardia Worksite and Tell Congress Not to Fly Home for the August Recess Without Passing an FAA Bill
• Discussion of What an Authorization is and How this affects the FAA