New york: Several US airlines have begun providing free meals to air traffic controllers and other federal employees who have missed paychecks due to the ongoing government shutdown. United Airlines announced Tuesday that it is distributing free meals at its major hubs, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles airports.

According to Anadolu Agency, the company expressed appreciation for the federal employees keeping the air travel system operational despite the financial difficulties caused by the shutdown. Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have also confirmed the launch of similar support programs at their respective airports.

The initiative follows the absence of paychecks for thousands of air traffic controllers since the start of the shutdown. At a press conference at New York's LaGuardia Airport, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels emphasized the increasing financial stress on these workers.

Duffy explained that as each day passes, the financial burden on controllers intensifies, particularly for those still in training who are finding it challenging to cover basic expenses. Daniels noted that some controllers have resorted to taking additional jobs, which could pose risks to the safety of the air traffic system.

The current shutdown, which began on October 1, is the second-longest in US history, triggered by a stalemate in negotiations over federal spending priorities. As a result, thousands of federal employees have been furloughed, and numerous government services have been reduced or halted.