Air travel is on the brink
America’s skies could soon become even more chaotic. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Thursday that the ongoing government shutdown will soon come to one of the nation’s most essential workforces — air traffic controllers.
Starting October 28, thousands of controllers will miss their first paychecks, and Duffy says the ripple effects could be felt across every major airport in the country.
“I can’t guarantee you that your flight is going to be on time,” Duffy said during a press briefing alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). “I can’t guarantee you that your flight’s not going to be cancelled.”
He added, “It’s going to depend on our air traffic controllers coming in to work every single day.”
A repeat of 2019?
This isn’t the first time America’s air system has faced a crisis during a shutdown. In 2019, air travel slowed to a crawl when unpaid federal employees began calling in sick or seeking other jobs. Major airports like LaGuardia and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson were forced to limit flights as staffing levels plummeted.
Now, Duffy and aviation experts fear history could repeat itself.
Many air traffic controllers — already stretched thin by long hours and low staffing — may not be able to continue working without pay. “Eventually, people are going to have to make human decisions,” one current controller told Axios. “The second missed paycheck is where people can’t last any longer without money coming in.”
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The human cost of the shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been struggling to hire and train new air traffic controllers even before the shutdown. Years of understaffing and high rates of retirement have left the agency short-staffed.
Controllers already handle long shifts under intense pressure, and many say that missing pay will only make an already stressful job even harder.
“These workers keep our skies safe every single day,” said Duffy. “But if they can’t pay their bills, we can’t expect them to keep showing up indefinitely.”
Their last paychecks — mostly covering work done in September — were already reduced due to the shutdown. Duffy noted that once pay stops completely, it could take only days for airports to start feeling the strain.
What it means for travelers
For now, planes are still flying. But travellers should brace for more delays, cancellations, and overcrowded terminals if the shutdown continues.
Duffy said the FAA will not hesitate to delay or cancel flights if staffing drops to unsafe levels. “Safety is paramount for us,” he emphasised. “If we don’t have enough people in a tower, TRACON, or centre, you will see us delay traffic — you will see us cancel flights.”
That means travellers during the busy fall and holiday season could face the same kind of gridlock that defined the last major shutdown.
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Political blame game
At Thursday’s press conference, Secretary Duffy joined House Republicans in blaming Democrats for the shutdown, saying their refusal to compromise on spending has forced essential workers into financial uncertainty.
Speaker Mike Johnson said there’s no available federal funding to pay the controllers, despite the White House’s efforts to redirect funds to the military and food aid programmes — a move Democrats say is legal and necessary.
Both parties have accused the other of causing the shutdown, leaving no clear end in sight.
A growing sense of urgency
With tens of thousands of flights at risk, pressure is building on lawmakers to reach a deal. Experts say a prolonged shutdown could lead to long-term damage for aviation safety and workforce morale.
For travellers, Duffy’s message was clear — hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
“As long as this shutdown continues,” he said, “I can’t guarantee your flight won’t be cancelled.”
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