Town Officials: Gov't Shutdown Wouldn't Impact MacArthur Airport Travelers

Flyers at MacArthur Airport don't need to worry about a federal government shutdown affecting their weekend travel plans, Islip Town officials said Thursday. 

Airport officials have been assured that all essential personnel involved in safety, from baggage screeners to air traffic controllers, will continue to report to work even if federal lawmakers can't reach a budget agreement before a midnight deadline on Friday. 

"While it’s possible that some non-essential personnel may be affected, I can assure residents and travelers that service will not be interrupted and travelers will not be inconvenienced in any way," Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan said of the possible shutdown, which lawmakers are now saying is likely.

A shutdown would affect thousands of federal employees on Long Island and tax refund checks could be delayed, but at Islip Town Hall, officials said they didn't expect any town services or operations to be disturbed if money stops flowing from Washington coffers.