Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air traffic controllers are feeling increasing pressure at work amid the government shutdown for which Republicans and Democrats are both holding each other responsible.
“I want them to think about the departures and arrivals of airplanes. I want to make sure they keep Americans, and airplanes, safe,” said Duffy during a press conference at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey on Monday. “But they’re not just thinking about the airspace, they’re thinking about: ‘Am I going to get a paycheck?’ ‘How am I going to pay my mortgage?’ ‘How do I make my car payment?’ ‘Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber?’”
Air traffic controllers would have typically received their next paycheck on Oct. 14, Duffy said, but they will now not be paid until the government reopens.
An estimated 13,000 air traffic controllers and 61,000 TSA staff are expected to continue working without pay throughout the shutdown.
“In a job that’s already stressful, this shutdown has put way more stress on our controllers… we ask them to do their jobs on old equipment and keep our airports operational,” said Duffy, echoing President Donald Trump’s former comments about the “obsolete” U.S. air traffic control system, which he has vowed to “modernize.”
Duffy went on to blame Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the shutdown. Republicans and Democrats are locked in a bitter stalemate over spending and health care items. Democrats are demanding a reversal of the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and fighting to extend Obamacare tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
“I want to make sure that Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries know that this is not consequence free, there are issues that arise throughout America that impact our everyday lives, that can impact our safety, when you shut the government down,” Duffy stated.
Although citing significant concerns, Duffy went on to emphasize that the U.S. airspace is not unsafe, despite the increasing pressure on air traffic controllers.
“If we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” he assured the public, before adding that training personnel could soon be subjected to layoffs, potentially causing further delays and cancellations.
Major flight delays, cancellations, and closures cause upset for travelers
FlightAware tracked over 6,200 delays and over 90 cancellations in the U.S. across Monday and early Tuesday. Over 40% of all flights were delayed out of both Orlando International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International, as well as 23% at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles County.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom of the Democratic Party publicly blamed his long-time sparring partner Trump for the disarray at Burbank Airport, which was left without air traffic controllers for six hours on Monday.
“Thanks, Donald Trump! Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” Newsom said on Monday evening, after local news reported the absence of staff.
Newark Liberty International encountered delays on 16% of its total flights on Monday. Denver International faced similar chaos, with delays for 247 outbound and 358 inbound flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s website featured a staffing issue notice on Monday night at around 7 p.m., lasting into Tuesday morning until 1 a.m. ET.
On Tuesday morning, the FAA warned that further ground delays are expected at airports including Denver International and Boston Logan. Closures, similar to that seen at Burbank on Monday, could also strike Tampa International and Miami International, with both airports flagged as “ground stop possible” by the FAA.
In response to TIME’s request for further information, the FAA said that “due to a lapse in funding” it will have “limited communications, but will send any significant safety messaging.”
Aviation workers face six-day weeks with no pay
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents air traffic control staff, urged workers to keep on turning up for their shifts amid a rise in recorded sick absences over the past week.
“We’re tracking sick calls and sick leave. And have we had a slight tick up in sick calls? Yes. And then you’ll see delays come from that,” Duffy told reporters.
“NATCA does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS (National Airspace System),” said the union on Monday.
“Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”
Per NATCA, many traffic control staff and other aviation workers will have to work six-day weeks, often on 10-hour shifts, during the shutdown. The union stated that during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, many of its members had to take up second jobs to fill the missing pay.
Roughly 2,350 NATCA-represented aviation safety professionals will be furloughed during the shutdown. “Critical safety support, operational support, and modernization work will stop,” NATCA has warned.
Staff shortages within control towers across the country has already been a concern prior to the government shutdown. A CBS analysis of FAA data in January found that only 10% of U.S. towers are sufficiently staffed to meet FAA standards.
Subsidies for rural airline services could expire as soon as Sunday
The federal funding that provides access to air travel for smaller and rural communities is set to run out on Oct. 12, according to the Trump Administration.
“There’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service,” said Secretary Duffy. “Every state across the country will be impacted by the inability to provide the subsidies to airlines to service these communities.”
Duffy went on to say that the Essential Air Service (EAS) has long been a program supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
As of November 2024, EAS provides subsidies “to 65 communities in Alaska and 112 communities in the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that otherwise may not receive any scheduled air service.”
In May, the White House proposed to cut EAS’ funding by $308 million, arguing that the program subsidizes “half-empty flights from airports that are within easy commuting distance from each other” and fails “to effectively provide assistance to most rural air travelers.”
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