NATCA President Nick Daniels’ Official Remarks From D.O.T. Press Conference at Newark Liberty International Airport

Today, Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) participated in a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the effects of the government shutdown on air traffic controllers. The following are President Daniels’ remarks.  

“Good afternoon. My name is Nick Daniels, and I am the president of NATCA, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. 

“I want to start by stating that I will leave the political discussions surrounding this shutdown to the politicians. 

“Today, I am proud to speak on behalf of the dedicated American workers who operate our national airspace system and manage the safe travel of millions of passengers and tons of cargo through it every single day.

“I am here to advocate for an end to the shutdown. We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction aside and focus completely on their vital work. 

“This work includes fulfilling Secretary Duffy’s goals of accelerating the hiring of air traffic controllers and modernizing our air traffic control system. Both of these initiatives are long overdue and require our immediate and full attention. We do not have the luxury of time to waste on the unnecessary distractions created by this shutdown. 

“Our message is clear: End the shutdown now!”