x
Breaking News
More () »

Protest at Sacramento International Airport calls for end to government shutdown

Twenty-six days into what is now the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, some 800,000 federal employees remain on furlough or working without pay.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — About 50 people protested at the Sacramento International Airport in a call on lawmakers to end the federal government shutdown.

Federal workers, union officials, politicians and supporters attended the one hour demonstration at Terminal A.

Protesters entered the terminal holding signs and chanting for an end to the shutdown. Twenty-six days into what is now the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, some 800,000 federal employees remain on furlough or working without pay.

RELATED: VERIFY: Can senators remove Mitch McConnell to reopen the government?

It's estimated that thousands of employees are in the Sacramento area, ranging from U.S. Forrest Service employees, correctional officers, and FBI.

About 300 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are working at the Sacramento International Airport without pay.

“After this next paycheck, it’s pretty much I’m in no-man’s land,” TSA Officer Gilbert Galem told ABC10 at the protest. “I’ve pretty much hit the brink.”

TSA employees are among some of the lowest paid federal employees and many live paycheck-to-paycheck, Galem said.

The national unscheduled absence rate for the TSA was 64 percent higher on January 15 than the same time last year, according to TSA data. Wait times for security screenings at U.S. airports remain around 15 minutes on average, according to the TSA.

Supporters say they’ll continue to protest at the airport until the shutdown is over.

Continue the conversation with Giacomo on Facebook.

________________________________________________________________

WATCH MORE: 5 hacks to get you through a power outage

Before You Leave, Check This Out