As the U.S. government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, the nation’s air travel system is straining under the weight of mounting delays, staff shortages, and growing anxiety among air traffic controllers tasked with keeping the skies safe. The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, has left around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers working without pay, and the effects are rippling across airports large and small.
On October 23, flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, New Jersey’s Newark airport, and Washington’s Reagan National Airport were snarled by controller shortages, causing headaches for travelers and airlines alike. The following day, nationwide flight delays soared to 6,158—up from a daily average of around 4,000 earlier in the week, according to FlightAware.com. Airports in Phoenix, Houston, and San Diego also reported significant delays on October 24 due to staffing issues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that similar problems could soon hit airports in the New York area, Dallas, and Philadelphia.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking at a press conference at Philadelphia Airport on October 24, didn’t mince words about the gravity of the situation. He explained that disruptions and delays are likely to worsen after Tuesday, October 28, when air traffic controllers will receive what he called “a big fat zero” on their paychecks. “The stress level that our controllers are under right now, I think is unacceptable,” Duffy stated, echoing the growing sense of frustration and worry among those keeping the nation’s airspace running.
Many FAA facilities are so critically short on controllers that just a handful of absences can trigger widespread disruptions. Duffy noted that more controllers have been calling in sick since the shutdown began, a trend that is only compounding the problem. “Controllers are telling me they are worried about how to pay their bills and frustrated with the shutdown,” Duffy said. The stress is palpable—and not just for those already on the job.
The shutdown’s impact is also being felt at the FAA’s academy in Oklahoma City, where the next generation of controllers is trained. Duffy revealed that some students have already decided to abandon the profession, unwilling to commit to a job that doesn’t guarantee a paycheck. “We’re getting word back right now from our academy in Oklahoma City that some of our young controllers in the academy and some who have been given spots in the next class of the academy are bailing. They’re walking away,” he reported, adding, “They’re asking themselves, why do I want to go into a profession where I could work hard and have the potential of not being paid for my services?”
That’s a worrying sign for the future, since training new controllers takes years and the pipeline is already stretched thin. Duffy warned that the government is just a week or two away from running out of money to pay students at the academy, threatening to further erode the workforce needed to keep air travel safe and efficient.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, stood alongside Duffy and painted a stark picture of the daily realities facing his members. “As this shutdown continues, and air traffic controllers are not paid for the vital work that they do day in and day out, that leads to an unnecessary distraction,” Daniels said. “They cannot be 100% focused on their jobs, which makes this system less safe. Every day that this shutdown continues, tomorrow, we’ll be less safe than today.”
To make ends meet, some controllers have taken on second jobs delivering DoorDash or driving for Uber. Daniels said it’s not fair that controllers—some of whom earn over six figures working six days a week—are now facing impossible choices about whether to pay for rent, child care, or groceries. The situation is especially dire for newer controllers, who might make less than $50,000 and have little financial cushion to fall back on.
In a show of solidarity, airlines and airports across the country have begun buying meals for controllers and helping them connect with food banks and other services. But these gestures, while appreciated, are no substitute for a regular paycheck or job security. The strain is beginning to show, with some controllers reportedly living paycheck to paycheck despite their demanding schedules and critical responsibilities.
The uncertainty has also led to warnings from officials about potential disciplinary action. Duffy has stated that any controllers found abusing sick leave during the shutdown could be fired—a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in maintaining air safety under such challenging conditions.
Meanwhile, the political stalemate in Washington shows little sign of breaking. Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over how to end the shutdown, with each side blaming the other for the ongoing impasse. Airlines, major unions, and industry leaders have all urged Congress to reach a deal, warning that the longer the shutdown drags on, the greater the risk to both safety and the economy.
Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, voiced his own concerns in a message to his members: “The safety of millions of passengers and tens of thousands of tons of cargo is in the hands of these workers. Worrying about how they’ll make their mortgage payment or pay for day care is an added stress they do not need.”
On Capitol Hill, the debate has become increasingly heated. Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called on Democrats to support a GOP bill to fund the government and ensure the safety of the flying public. “Our aviation system has operated safely throughout the shutdown, but it’s putting an incredible and unnecessary strain on the system, and on our air traffic controllers, flight crews, and many other aviation professionals,” said Graves, a Missouri Republican.
For now, there’s little relief in sight. As controllers brace for their first missed paycheck and delays continue to mount, the question on everyone’s mind is how much longer the system can hold out before the cracks widen into something more dangerous. With safety, livelihoods, and the future of the nation’s air travel at stake, the pressure is on lawmakers to find a solution—before the situation on the ground, and in the skies, gets any worse.
The coming days will test not just the resilience of air traffic controllers, but the resolve of the country’s leaders to put an end to a crisis that is already pushing the system to its limits.
