COLUMBUS — The head of Transportation Security Administration operations for Ohio has praised workers who have missed two paychecks for remaining on the job amid the record federal government shutdown, which entered its 35th day Friday.
The Columbus Dispatch reports TSA Ohio Director Don Barker recently told the board of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority that TSA’s absenteeism rate in central Ohio is “about 2 percent” and operations are running smoothly for now. He says security lanes would have to start shutting down if the rate reaches 50 percent.
Some airports in the country have reported around 10 percent absenteeism, forcing cutbacks in security checkpoints.
Officials at John Glenn Columbus International Airport say food and gift cards have been pouring in for workers and businesses and organizations are offering free meals and clothing discounts.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, COSI and Franklin Park Conservatory are among the area attractions offering free admission to all furloughed federal workers.
Ohio State is also offering the workers free admission to all athletics events for the duration of the shutdown and COTA will provide free 31-day bus passes.
Ohio’s U.S., Senators both called for an end to the shutdown after votes on comnpeting measure failed Thursday.
“Now it’s time to coalesce around a third way that has support from some Republicans and some Democrats,” Republican Rob Portman said. “It would reopen government in the short term with the commitment to a border security plan that can be enacted in the next few weeks.”
Possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sherrod Brown blamed Portman’s fellow Republicans for the failure.
“A bill to reopen the government was put on the Senate Floor today, and [Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell and Senate Republicans refused to do their jobs and end this shutdown,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, authorities say the full investigation into a plane crash that killed two pilots in northeast Ohio likely will be delayed by the shutdown. The Daily Record in Wooster reports a statement this week from a National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman said the majority of NTSB employees are furloughed. The spokeswoman says the board won’t be able to begin its investigation of Monday’s crash until the shutdown ends.