Shutdown causes flight delays, food insecurity in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Lawmakers in Washington are working to reopen the federal government as the longest shutdown in history drags on.

It can’t come soon enough for Tina Postel, the CEO of the Charlotte non-profit, Nourish Up.

“We can’t possibly feed any more people than what we’re already doing,” she said.

Postel says all the area’s food pantries put together can’t come close to meeting the demand, which has spiked while federal workers go without paychecks and families in need aren’t getting their full food benefits.

“You see it on their faces when they come into a pantry or when they’re waiting in line for food: the absolute despair and panic,” Postel said. “Even if the government opens today, it is not a quick fix to get everybody back up on their feet again.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says 1.4 million people in the state, including more than 580,000 children, rely on federal food benefits.

Hearts and Hands, an independent food pantry in Charlotte, has expanded its service hours as it ramps up to distribute food at its full capacity, according to founder Kenya Joseph.

Joseph says financial donations are critical because even if the shutdown ends this week, demand will be very high through the holiday season to the end of the year.

Movement toward reopening the government didn’t change the situation at Charlotte Douglas International Airport either.

At least 175 flights were canceled or delayed Monday after an FAA-mandated slowdown.

An airport spokesperson said in a statement, “Our airline partners are working diligently to limit disruptions for customers…We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation together.”

Meanwhile, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Nick Daniels, said the strain of his members not being paid makes flying more dangerous.

“When the most disciplined safety workforce in America is forced to think about survival instead of public safety, this is the cost,” Daniels said. “This is not theoretical. It is happening now.”

President Donald Trump demanded in a Truth Social post that all air traffic controllers get back to work immediately, promising to punish those who don’t and reward the ones who took no time off.