Airlines Pushed Trump Officials Over Flight Cut Justification
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Havoc plaguing the US travel industry continued Tuesday, even as lawmakers moved closer toward ending the government shutdown. Airline executives questioned the Trump administration over its justifications for unprecedented flight cuts.
Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg
Days before the White House ordered flight cuts by domestic carriers, airline executives privately pressed for more information on whether safety data justified the unprecedented measures, which the administration has blamed in part on the government shutdown.
Democrats have accused Donald Trump of blocking food aid for millions and upending air travel for millions more in a campaign to win the shutdown fight and avoid extending healthcare subsidies. The Democrats are close to losing that war after eight of their number defected, agreeing to a deal with no subsidy extension.