The Federal Aviation Administration will shutter some services at midnight after Congress failed to pass a temporary funding extension for the agency today. The Internet news site The Daily Caller notes:
The agency has been operating on short-term funding extensions since its last funding bill expired in 2007.
Congress is deadlocked over funding for the Essential Air Service program, which provides federal subsidies to maintain certain rural air routes. The House extension included a provision cutting EAS funding at 13 airports — three more than Senate Democrats were willing to accept — and capping federal subsidies at $1,000 per passenger.
Senate Democrats blocked the House bill, drafted by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica of Florida, from being heard on the floor.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the shutdown means the FAA will furlough as many as 4,000 workers and stop collecting around $200 million a week in airplane-ticket and other taxes until a resolution is reached.
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