Airports across America are in chaos. Delays, canceled flights, and long lines stretched across the country. At the same time, millions of families are waiting for food aid. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump flew to Florida for the weekend.
On Friday night, CNN anchor Erica Hill opened The Source with Kaitlan Collins with a clear picture of the disruption. Hundreds of planes were grounded, and thousands more flights were delayed. Travelers shared their frustration, confusion, and worry. One person said the government was “serving itself and not the people.” Another called it “holding the American people hostage.”
The root of the problem is the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history. The Trump administration reduced flights at forty major airports to address air traffic controller shortages. Instead, the cuts made delays and cancellations worse.
Flights into major cities were severely affected. Travelers to Washington faced waits of up to four hours. Chicago passengers waited over an hour. In Houston, delays approached three hours. The disruptions were already serious, and holiday travel will make them worse.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that flight cancellations are likely to increase. He said cuts could reach 10%, or even 20%, if the shutdown continues. The effects are spreading fast across the country.
While travelers struggle, the President is in Florida. Before leaving, he told the Senate to stay in Washington until a deal is made. But he chose to fly off for a weekend trip.
Congress remains gridlocked. Senate Democrats say they have offered a fair plan to reopen the government. Senate Republicans called that plan a “nonstarter.” Meanwhile, the House is leaving again. Over the last 5 months, it has met for just 20 days. The lack of action has only prolonged the shutdown.
Erica Hill noted that the real solution has to start at the Capitol. So far, no progress has been made, and the public continues to face the consequences.
Earlier at the White House, Trump made another controversial statement. He claimed prices are falling. His exact words were, “Despite what you see when you go to the store, prices are down under the Trump administration, and they’re down substantially.”
For many Americans, rising grocery and gas costs tell a different story. Families waiting for SNAP benefits face real challenges, while leadership struggles to find a solution.
Late Friday, the administration also filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. The goal was to block a lower court order requiring full SNAP payments. Over 40 million Americans rely on this aid, making the stakes urgent.
For a closer look at the chaos at airports and the struggles of SNAP recipients, watch the full video below:
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
