Steve Cortes, president of the League of American Workers (LAW), criticized Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego’s party after a CNN report quoted a senior Democratic aide saying Democrats “will not concede short of planes falling out of the sky” amid the ongoing government shutdown.
“Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego’s political party is taking the stance that they won’t compromise until ‘planes are falling out of the sky,’” said Cortes. “That kind of reckless arrogance puts Americans’ safety below partisan gamesmanship. It’s clear the Democrat Party would rather risk chaos in the skies than take responsibility for their own shutdown.”
CNN reported that a senior Democratic aide told the network that “as long as public perception is in their favor, the party will not concede short of planes falling out of the sky.” The remark referred to potential air travel disruptions caused by air traffic controller staffing shortages during the ongoing federal shutdown.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the statement in a post on X, calling it “one of the most disgusting statements I’ve ever read.”
Federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, have previously warned that extended shutdowns can delay training for air traffic controllers and affect flight safety if staffing levels drop too low.
Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers, a pro-labor, pro-America advocacy organization that promotes policies to strengthen working- and middle-class families. He previously served as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and has appeared as a political analyst on CNN and Fox News.
