Air traffic control staffing challenges are causing delays at airports in New York, Washington, Newark, and Houston due to the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown now in its 23rd day, as reported by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday. The FAA highlighted staffing issues at 10 different locations and implemented ground stops at Houston Bush and Newark airports. Flight delays were averaging 31 minutes at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and 62 minutes at New York LaGuardia.
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay during this shutdown. FlightAware, a flight tracking platform, noted over 4,200 U.S. flights experienced delays on Thursday, impacting more than 15% of flights at Reagan, Newark, and LaGuardia, and 13% at Bush airports.
Concerns are rising among federal officials regarding potential controller absences escalating over the weekend, especially as controllers face missing their first full paycheck next Tuesday. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, expressed worries about significant flight disruptions and cancellations during the upcoming holiday season if the situation persists.
The blame game continues between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats refuting accusations of responsibility for the shutdown, placing the onus on U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republicans for their refusal to engage in negotiations. The air traffic control issue has emerged as a focal point in the shutdown debate, with unions and airlines advocating for a swift resolution to the deadlock.
During a 35-day shutdown in 2019, increased absences among controllers and TSA officers were observed as workers struggled without paychecks, leading to extended wait times at security checkpoints in some airports. The pressure mounted on lawmakers to end the standoff as air traffic operations were slowed in New York and Washington. Prior to the shutdown, the FAA already faced a shortage of about 3,500 air traffic controllers, with many working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
