As the Schumer Shutdown persists, Democrats are increasingly leaning on the "blame Trump" card as a way to try and absolve themselves of their very prominent role in not only shutting the government down in the first place but keeping it shut down a week after it started, thanks in part to their insistence on taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants.
On Monday, there were reports out of California stating that the Hollywood Burbank Airport air traffic control tower was supposedly going to be "unmanned" for several hours because "the government shutdown triggered a shortage of air traffic controllers."
ABC 7 further noted that even though ATC workers were considered "essential government employees" who were still supposed to show up for work, there were many who called in sick because otherwise they would be working without pay.
SEE ALSO: Trump Admin Reportedly Tweaks Employees' Out-Of-Office Replies About Schumer Shutdown
Not surprisingly, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pounced and seized on the news, blaming President Trump for the delays and the shutdown:
Thanks, @realDonaldTrump!
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 6, 2025
Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown. https://t.co/bnfuI9CKiR
Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy, who had held a press conference earlier in the day explaining the delays and how the administration's priorities remained on keeping travelers safe, was not having it, setting Newsom straight on a few things, including where the blame rests for the shutdown:
News flash!
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!
You care more about illegals than our hard-working American air traffic controllers.
If you’re looking for someone to blame, look in the mirror - we all know it’s your favorite thing to do.
News flash!
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) October 7, 2025
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!
You care more about illegals than our hard-working American air traffic controllers.
If you’re… https://t.co/JMWNHUSjBW
And just for clarification, even though there were delays at the Burbank airport, the air traffic space was being managed by Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) controllers who are based in San Diego:
Although the air traffic control tower is unmanned, Southern California TRACON is controlling the air traffic in the airport’s airspace, Alsop said. The San Diego-based organization is operated by the FAA and uses radar technology to ensure the safe flow of planes through airspace surrounding dozens of airports across Southern California.
The LA Times quoted a spokesperson from the airport as saying that everything was "back to normal" as of Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, the Schumer Shutdown, which has been aided and abetted by the unreasonable demands of Newsom and other California Democrats, continues.
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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