Here’s which city has offered to pay airport staff as historic government shutdown continues

A Colorado city has proposed to keep the nation’s third-busiest airport running by paying air traffic controllers out of its own pocket during the historic government shutdown, according to a report.

Denver’s proposal, which would need the green light from the Federal Aviation Administration, is meant to stop a steep 10% cut in flights ordered across major US airports at Denver International Airport, Mayor Mike Johnston told Politico on Thursday.

“The Denver Airport is maybe the largest economic driver in the Rocky Mountain West,” the Democrat told the outlet.

“It is critical to not just our quality of life, but to our economic health,” he added.

The airport, which is overseen by the city, formally requested a waiver from the FAA on Wednesday for permission to pay airport staff — but has not heard back from the agency as of Thursday, per the outlet.

The FAA did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Johnston blasted what he referred to as “the President’s shutdown” for compromising the city’s economy.

“The president’s shutdown is just starting to seep throughout different parts of the city,” Johnston said.

“This would be a crushing blow to the city’s economy that affects not just those that are in greatest need, but everybody who relies on the airport for work or for travel or for leisure,” he said.

Flights will be slashed by 10% in 40 major cities across the US starting Friday morning as the federal government grapples with the record-length shutdown, which has dragged into its fifth week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday.

Duffy warned that “mass chaos” could erupt when the cut goes into effect. The change could ground as many as 4,000 flights nationwide.

The move comes as many air traffic controllers have called out sick while not being paid for working during the shutdown, which began on Oct. 1.

Denver International Airport handled more than 80 million passengers in 2024, according to Airports Council International.

The tourism industry also remains one of the city’s major money-makers, employing roughly $190,000 people, the outlet reported.

Denver’s plan includes a stipulation to request reimbursement once the shutdown ends, though the federal government has previously not picked up the bill for cities and states post-shutdown, according to the outlet.

States including Urah, Colorado and New York were not reimbursed after funding park operations during the 2013 shutdown, the outlet said.

It’s also possible the FAA could grant the airport permission to pay airport staff, but keep its flight cut mandate in place.

“We understand there’s some risk,” Johnston said.

“We think the greatest risks of all are shutting down the economy by stopping air travel, which is a major economic driver for us.”