As the Schumer shutdown drags on, the dam is starting to break against Democrats. Airline CEOs lined up on Thursday to demand the passage of a clean CR, citing the possibility of future delays and cancellations. Air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, and if the system shuts down, it's game over for commercial air travel.
Over the past few weeks, ALPA and SWAPA, which represent most major airline pilots in the United States, publicly called for the passage of a clean CR. But while you'd expect pilots, who still tend to lean right, to take that position, having the CEO of United Airlines do so, one of the most woke corporations in the country, is a different animal.
RELATED: Pressure Intensifies on Senate Democrats to End the Schumer Shutdown As Pilots Take Action
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on the government shutdown: "It's putting stress on people, it's not fair to those people, it's also putting stress on the economy... it's been 30 days... I also think it is time to pass a clean CR."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 30, 2025
STOP THE SUFFERING, DEMOCRATS! pic.twitter.com/6uwHABX277
We are talking about an airline that holds LGBTQ conferences and paints its planes in pride colors during June. There's no question which way its corporate culture typically leans. So to see Scott Kirby standing next to FAA Administrator Sean Duffy and Vice President JD Vance, telling Democrats to stop playing games, is a pretty big deal.
American Airlines and Delta Airlines, also not exactly known for their conservative values, followed suit.
New: American Airlines calls for passage of clean CR pic.twitter.com/qhFf5N5kfB
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) October 30, 2025
👀 Delta, United, American Airlines, and air traffic control are all calling on Democrats to re-open the government.
— Delanie Bomar (@DelanieBomar) October 30, 2025
How many more lives are Senate Dems willing to risk before they cave? pic.twitter.com/YV2RfVgEss
Democrats are now butting up against a reality they can't change. Air travel is one part of this shutdown that actually affects a broad swath of Americans. This isn't healthcare subsidies to bail out Obamacare so early retirees can buy an extra boat. It's an industry that almost every socio-economic background utilizes, many with some regularity. Now, Democrats have to face that wrath while their justification for keeping the government shut down becomes less and less defensible.
The White House is doing a very good job of messaging this whole thing. We already know Democrats are raging hypocrites who have repeatedly said in the past that you don't negotiate over shutdowns and that clean CRs are the only acceptable solution. But to make them own it in such an in-your-face way is probably something Schumer and company didn't expect to have to deal with.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
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