NJ Congressmen decry cuts’ impact on air travel

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s Congressional Democrats are speaking out against what they say are the potentially damaging effects of federal budget cuts on airline travel.

Sen. Robert Menendez and Reps. Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell and Donald Payne appeared at Newark Liberty International Airport Friday afternoon to discuss cuts they say will reduce safety and increase delays.

Pallone said air traffic control towers at smaller airports would have to be closed and that commercial flights would be delayed or canceled due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Federal officials have said that the automatic budget cuts going into effect Friday will force aviation and homeland security personnel at airports to take furloughs, though many won’t face that prospect for at least a month.