In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.
Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.
On our new show, Sources and Methods,
NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.
Listen to Sources and Methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman.
This is day eight of the federal government shutdown.
Many federal workers are being furloughed,
and President Trump has suggested some of them won't get back pay.
Democrats and union leaders say it's illegal to deny the workers back wages.
Some essential workers are still on the job without pay.
That includes air traffic controllers.
There have been staffing shortages reported at some airports.
Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association,
says this group of workers is already severely understaffed and under strain.
Air traffic controllers don't start a shutdown.
Air traffic controllers don't end a shutdown.
Politicians are the only ones that start a shutdown and have the ability to end it.
Air traffic controllers are going to show up and do everything we can,
but the longer that this lasts, It's going to place a continued strain on air traffic control.