US Flight Disruptions Amid Storms, Shutdown

Hundreds to thousands of flights across the United States were canceled or delayed due to a combination of powerful storms sweeping across the eastern half of the country and a partial government shutdown. The storms brought heavy snow to the Midwest and high winds to the East Coast, prompting the United States — Federal Aviation Administration to issue ground stops and delays at major airports including United States — Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United States — O Hare International Airport, United States — John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Kuwait — Kuwait International Airport. Concurrently, a partial government shutdown, affecting the United States — United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States — Social Security Administration, has led to United States — Social Security Administration workers missing paychecks. This has resulted in staffing shortages at security checkpoints, longer wait times for travelers, and over 300 United States — Social Security Administration agents quitting. Airline CEOs, including those from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, have urged the United States to resolve the shutdown to ensure federal aviation workers are paid.