In the News

Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici talks one-on-one with KATU's Angelica Thornton about the on-going government shutdown and why she thinks President Trump shouldn't get any money to build a border wall.

Shutdown impacts over 41,000 active duty Coast Guard members performing missions and protecting the coastal borders

Oregon lawmakers applauded legislation introduced by Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) that would provide funding for the Coast Guard and ensure that active duty and reserve members of the Coast Guard are paid during the government shutdown. Members of the Coast Guard are the only members of the United States military not being paid for their critical and continuing operations.

Two Oregon lawmakers have applauded legislation introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio that would provide funding for the Coast Guard and ensure that active duty and reserve members are paid during the government shutdown.

A release from the 4th District Congressman said members of the Guard are the only members of the United States military that are not being paid at this time.

Two Democratic members of Congress from Oregon met with TSA agents and air-traffic controllers at Portland International Airport on Tuesday before flying back to Washington, D.C.

U.S. representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader met with the federal workers who are considered "essential," which means they're working without pay, like others across the country.

More than 700 air traffic controllers and security officers continue to show up to work at airports across Oregon with no assurance of their next paycheck as the federal government shutdown hit the 18-day mark on Tuesday.

Some workers, however, are growing increasingly worried.

Air traffic controllers and TSA agents at Portland International Airport told lawmakers they're selling plasma and considering looking for work in the private sector as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.

About 60 air traffic controllers and up to 400 TSA agents at PDX have been working without pay since the government shutdown first began over two weeks ago. The shutdown occurred because of a disagreement between the president and congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall.

As the partial government shutdown enters its 3rd week, problems are arising at airports across the country.

Hundreds of TSA agents have decided that if they're not getting paid, they're going to call in sick -- which in turn has caused long lines at checkpoints. The most impacted airports so far are New York, Seattle and Dallas-Fort Worth.

PDX isn't experiencing the TSA sick calls, but the local TSA union president fears the agents may have to find other employment if the shutdown continues.