The US government shutdown has entered its second month, disrupting several sectors and heavily impacting the nation’s air travel industry. Airports across the country continue to face massive delays amid a growing shortage of air traffic controllers, many of whom have now missed their first full paycheck.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday that nearly half of the 30 busiest US airports are struggling with staffing shortages, according to Reuters.
The shortage has caused significant delays at major hubs including Boston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Nashville, Houston, Dallas, and airports in the Washington D.C. area. In New York, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports are facing average delays of around two hours.
Disruptions follow chaotic night of flight cancellationsThe crisis deepened Thursday after the FAA reported that no certified controllers were available for the evening shift at Orlando International Airport, forcing the agency to activate contingency measures. That decision created a chain reaction of delays along the East Coast, leading to a chaotic night of travel for passengers.
“Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of air traffic controllers are absent at New York–area facilities,” the FAA said in a statement posted on X.
Urgent calls for Congress to end the shutdownTransportation officials and aviation unions have renewed calls for Congress to resolve the funding deadlock. Reuters, citing Fox News’ America Newsroom, reported that US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of worsening flight disruptions.
“Coming into this weekend and then the week after, I think you are going to see even more disruptions in the airspace,” Reuters quoted Duffy as saying.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, urged lawmakers to end the impasse immediately.
“Congress must pass a clean continuing resolution to immediately end the government shutdown, ensure that all individuals who have not been paid during this prolonged closure receive their compensation, and then engage in bipartisan negotiations on other pressing issues facing our nation,” he said.
Industry fears holiday chaosThe prolonged shutdown has raised fears of a “holiday meltdown” if the standoff continues into the Thanksgiving rush. Vice President JD Vance warned, “It could be a disaster. At that point, you’re talking about people have missed three paychecks. How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the impact is already being felt across the economy.
“It’s putting stress on the economy,” he said. “It is time to pass a clean CR.”
According to Reuters, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers continue to work without pay.
Budget deadlock continuesA government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass a budget to fund federal agencies and programs. The current closure stems from a standoff between Republicans, who want a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government, and Democrats, who are pushing to include an extension of health insurance subsidies to prevent consumer cost hikes.
As the shutdown stretches into its second month, travel disruptions are mounting — with no resolution yet in sight.
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