SAWYER -- Obama administration officials say contractors have been told to stop work on airport modernization projects across the country. That's because Congress has failed to pass funding legislation for the work to continue.
Congress adjourned on Friday without making a decision and passing an extension of the FAA reauthorization bill by midnight.
Dozens of stop work orders have been issued for major projects designed to build and modernize control towers and other airport projects.
One of those projects is at Sawyer International Airport. The runway repairs and airfield painting projects, worth $370,000, were scheduled to start in August.
"The construction season is very short here in the U.P., so we're hopeful we'll be able to somehow, someway keep on target, on schedule, with the project for late August," said Airport Manager Keith Kaspari.
The hang up in getting legislation passed centers on air service subsidies for rural communities and a Republican proposal making it more difficult for airline workers to unionize.
This lack of funding will affect thousands of public and private sector jobs, but the FAA officials stated that the flying safety of the public will not be compromised.
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