As the U.S. government shutdown entered its 31st day, nearly half of the nation’s 30 busiest airports faced severe air traffic controller shortages, triggering widespread flight delays and cancellations. With over 13,000 controllers and 50,000 TSA officers forced to work unpaid, travel chaos intensified across major hubs from New York to Dallas. The FAA warned that stress and fatigue among staff are reaching dangerous levels as calls grow louder for Congress to end the standoff.
Shutdown Pushes Aviation to Breaking Point
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported on Friday that nearly 50% of the 30 busiest U.S. airports are now short of air traffic controllers. The absence of staff caused nationwide flight delays, marking the most severe disruption since the shutdown began. New York faced the worst situation, with 80% of its controllers absent. The FAA described the conditions as “immense stress and fatigue,” warning that the system’s safety could be compromised if the impasse continues.
Major Airports Disrupted
At least 35 FAA facilities across the country reported staffing problems, including major airports in New York City, Austin, Newark, Phoenix, Washington, Nashville, Dallas, and Denver. Some airports reported delays averaging over an hour, while others saw flights canceled entirely. LaGuardia Airport in New York experienced delays on half of its flights and cancellations on 12%, with average wait times reaching 140 minutes. Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport reported a quarter of its flights delayed, while other major hubs faced similar struggles.
13,000 Controllers Without Pay
The FAA confirmed that 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been forced to work without pay since the government shutdown began on October 1. “After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue,” the FAA stated late Friday. The agency urged lawmakers to resolve the funding impasse, emphasizing the need to restore pay for critical staff and prevent further disruptions to air travel.
Flight Delays Mount Nationwide
According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, more than 5,600 flights were delayed and 500 were canceled across the United States on Friday. Airline officials said the impact could have been worse if not for a 20% drop in traffic due to Halloween. On Thursday, similar issues at major hubs like Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Washington, DC caused 7,300 flight delays and 1,250 cancellations. Airlines warned that the situation may deteriorate further over the weekend and the following week.
Airlines and Officials Sound Alarm
Airlines, including Delta, United, Southwest, and American, called on Congress to pass a stopgap funding bill known as a “continuing resolution” to reopen the government. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that disruptions will likely increase in the coming days. “Coming into this weekend and then the week after, I think you are going to see even more disruptions in the airspace,” Duffy said on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom.
Shutdown Stalemate in Congress
The government shutdown, now stretching into its second month, remains unresolved as Congress fails to pass a federal funding bill. Republican lawmakers are pushing for a “clean” funding measure with no conditions attached, while Democrats insist on including talks to extend healthcare subsidies expiring at year’s end. The ongoing political deadlock has left critical agencies like the FAA struggling to maintain essential operations amid growing public frustration.
FAA Faces Worsening Staff Shortage
Even before the shutdown, the FAA was short of about 3,500 air traffic controllers. Many employees were already working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime to meet demand. The current crisis has worsened the shortage, raising fears of safety lapses and longer-term disruptions in the aviation system. The situation echoes the 35-day shutdown in 2019, which ended only after similar flight delays forced urgent political action.