HOUSTON – Friday's temporary end to the partial government shutdown apparently comes not a moment too soon for Houston's federal workers.
"Every day that passes, the safety of the system is going to degrade just a little bit," Chris Parris, with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said.
In fact, cracks in the air traffic control system were apparent Friday when flights at New York's Laguardia Airport ground to a halt because not enough air traffic controllers came to work.
Two controllers quit at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and in Houston a dire warning was issued from the local union boss.
"There is no question the system is less safe today than when the shutdown began," Parris said.
About 500 men and women in the Houston area have controller-related jobs. Some are now waiting tables after their long, stressful, payless shifts.
"I don't think it's right and fair that these guys are not getting paid," traveler Patrick Logan said.
On Friday afternoon, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and other federal employees lined up for free food that was generously provided by a community group.
"There are many sad stories, so we thought we could try to help a little bit," Mohammed Zakir, with the Dawoodi Bohra community, said.
It's not yet exactly clear when the workers will get paid, but some say they won't make it another two weeks.
On Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced the partial federal government shutdown is temporarily over, leaving workers cautiously optimistic.
“It’s a Band-Aid, it’s good because the American people will be able to get the two pay checks that we missed in January and get it up and running, but three weeks we can be right back here in the same situation,” said Bridget Broussard-Guidry, president the local union chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees.
She works for NASA as a financial management specialist and said the last 35 days have been rough.
The partial government shutdown was the longest in American history. It started on Dec. 22 when Trump asked for $5.7 billion in federal money to build a border wall. Democratic leaders did not agree and would not make a deal.
Friday’s announcement is temporary and gives lawmakers until Feb. 15 to negotiate a long-term deal.
Broussard-Guidry and about two dozen other federal employees chanted outside several lawmaker’s offices in downtown Houston demanding some type of resolve.
“They need to start the government back up and then they can work on the border issues and immigrations issues later, they shouldn’t hold people hostage for that,” said Ed Vargocko, who held up a sign that said, "Honk to end the shutdown.”
His nephew is a park ranger and was furloughed like about 800,000 other federal employees.
Trump didn’t give an exact date, but said workers will be paid as soon as possible.
“I’m glad they’re going to pay everybody and everybody is going to get relieved of that stress, but I’m worried about everyone coming back and how that’s going to play out in a few weeks, are we going to go back to this again?” questioned Natalie Smith, a contractor for NASA.
