Lawton airport said operations will continue as normal during government shutdown

The director of Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport said she doesn’t expect the federal government shutdown to impact flights at her facility.

Officials and entities across the nation are making plans this week, as the shutdown cuts funding for them.

Airport Director Barbara McNally said while the decision means Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel working at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport won’t be paid, she hasn’t received any notifications from TSA and she expects this shutdown to proceed as it has in past years.

“The last time we did this, everybody showed up and worked, then got back pay,” McNally said, adding she expects flights into and out of Lawton to continue as they normally would.

A statement issued Friday by the White House said essential airport employees, to include air traffic controllers and TSA officers, still must show up for work, but won’t get paid until the shutdown ends.

Federal officials began indicating Friday that most federal agencies and services will be impacted as non-essential personnel are sent home. Those deemed essential personnel will continue to work, but not receive pay until the shutdown is over. Essential agencies include Homeland Security and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as active duty military personnel and essential personnel in the Pentagon.

The National Park Service expects the majority of its national parks to be closed as employees are furloughed. The U.S. Postal Service will not be affected, that agency said, explaining that it is an independent contracted agency.

The last federal government shutdown occurred Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 25, 2019.