US Air Traffic Controllers Take Second Jobs, Congress Sends Billions Abroad
When a government shutdown looms, or simply when federal employees miss paychecks, we hear endless hand-wringing. Air traffic controllers, already understaffed by 3,500 according to the FAA, are now reportedly taking second jobs just to survive. Yet, the same halls of Congress that can't reliably pay essential workers just voted to send billions in aid to Israel, with Rep. Smith, for example,
receiving $450,000 from AIPAC in 2023, then voting for HR 815, providing $14 billion more in military aid, a mere 48 hours later. (According to OpenSecrets.org, 2023 filings). We have a government that struggles to keep its own critical personnel afloat, while simultaneously ensuring an uninterrupted flow of advanced weaponry overseas. It appears humanitarian concerns, or even ensuring safe air
travel at home, are selective—one might wonder how many more military aid packages it takes before our own air traffic controllers can afford to stop delivering pizzas. This isn't just about 'priorities'; it's about a bizarre fiscal contortion act that sacrifices domestic stability for foreign policy posturing.