Despite warnings months ahead that these furloughs were required by the sequester (and since it was written to be painful, why would you think otherwise?), Republicans argued that the White House and the FAA were playing politics with the FAA furloughs.
It didn't matter that March 6th, the FAA formally issued 30-day notices to its employees of the furloughs, as required by workplace rules, Republicans played both sides of the argument, saying that the cuts would remain and that the FAA and White House were playing politics.
And then it happened: On April 7 those furloughs went into effect.
So be it, the flying public was inconvenienced, because Republicans didn't take the sequester cuts seriously.
So the question you should ask is: Why, after three weeks following the start of furloughs, did Congress finally move off its butt to give the FAA the flexibility to shift (currently unspent funds) to avoid the furloughs?
The answer: Congress was about to go on vacation, and didn't want to be inconvenienced by delays themselves, nor did they want to face angry constituents, of course!
No kidding: The day the furloughs were rescinded (Saturday) was the first day of a week-long vacation for Congress.
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