Senator Harry Reid struck a deal that would enable the FAA workers to return to work today, August 4, 2011. According to Ray LaHood, the Transportation Secretary, during an interview with Chris Matthews (MSNBC), President Obama had instructed him and Reid to stay on this issue until it was resolved.
During a press interview that took place August 3, 2011, President Obama said the Congress had placed the United States in a lose, lose, lose situation by going on recess without settling the impasse regarding funding the FAA. At the time of this posting, the airlines were collecting and keeping millions of dollars of government revenues and it was unclear as to what the airlines were doing with the funds. Upwards of 70 thousand airline construction workers across the nation were furloughed because of the standoff. Safety inspectors affected by the impasse were using their personal funds, including credit cards, to purchase necessary items that allow them to continue doing their jobs. The President said that the problem existed because Congress did not do its job and that the members needed to get back in town.
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