California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday publicly criticized President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over staffing shortages at Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory Monday noting delays at the airport, located near Los Angeles, due to a lack of air traffic controllers.
According to the FAA, no controllers were present from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time.
Despite the absence, the airport posted on X at 6:44 p.m. PDT that “operations are continuing.”
Newsom Points to Government Shutdown
Newsom directed his criticism at the federal government, tweeting, “Thanks @realDonaldTrump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15 p.m. to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown.”
The post came at 3:43 p.m. PDT.
Transportation Secretary Duffy responded roughly two hours later, placing blame on Newsom’s party for the ongoing shutdown.
He argued that Democrats were leveraging the shutdown over healthcare policy disputes, particularly regarding coverage for undocumented immigrants.
Health Care Disputes at Center of Shutdown
The tension comes amid ongoing negotiations between the White House and Congress.
Republicans have accused Democrats of attempting to expand access to Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and ACA Marketplace subsidies for undocumented immigrants.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Trump on July 4, restricted access for lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylees, to these programs, according to the non-partisan health policy group KFF.
Democrats in Congress have sought to repeal the restrictions and permanently extend subsidies offered under the ACA.
Duffy Criticizes California Leadership
Duffy directly addressed the issue on X, stating, “Your Democrat friends shut down the government because they want to make Americans pay the health care for illegals. And no state has more illegals than California!”
He repeated similar criticism during a Tuesday appearance on Fox and Friends, describing Newsom as “unbelievable.”
Newsom responded with a follow-up post mocking Duffy, noting that the secretary “has time to do Fox and Friends and complain about how a Governor hurt his feelings,” despite staffing shortages and travel delays.
The White House has not yet publicly responded to Newsom’s remarks.
FAA Contingency and Essential Workers
The FAA has furloughed more than 11,000 employees under the Transportation Department’s shutdown contingency plan.
At the same time, over 13,000 air traffic controllers continue to work without pay as essential personnel.
Historical precedent shows how staffing shortages affect travel.
During the government shutdown in January 2019, an uptick in controllers calling out sick led to delays along the East Coast.
At a press conference Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport, Duffy acknowledged a slight increase in the number of controllers taking sick days since the lapse in government funding began last Wednesday.
Travelers at Hollywood Burbank Airport experienced delays, but officials emphasized that flights continued to operate safely.
The ongoing standoff in Washington underscores the impact of political disputes on transportation and infrastructure across the country.
