Originally Posted by
Dick Ginkowski
I suggest that the airlines offer a loan to keep essential air traffic control functions operating until the budget situation is resolved.
This is what normal businesses do all the time when there is a cash flow blip.
There are actual legal issues with directly paying government employees (even in situations like this) and the administration has indicated that they are not interested in trying to enable such arrangements by refusing such offers from a couple of airports already.
The payment would have to be direct, as a loan / IOU construct would still be considered an appropriation under the anti-deficiency act (which is what triggers government shutdowns).