Air traffic controller shortages emerge, U.S. transportation secretary says

U.S. airports are facing mounting disruptions as air traffic controller shortages worsen amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday.

According to Duffy, more than 20 instances of staffing shortages were reported across the country, one of the highest figures since the shutdown began on October 1, when lawmakers failed to reach a budget agreement. He warned that the situation would likely deteriorate as controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday.

About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay during the shutdown. Duffy told Fox News Sunday that the shortages were a clear sign that “controllers are wearing thin.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed shortages at six major U.S. airports, including Chicago, Newark, and Los Angeles, where a ground stop was temporarily issued at LAX due to staffing constraints.

According to FlightAware, more than 5,300 U.S. flights were delayed on Saturday and another 2,500 by midday Sunday. The FAA is currently about 3,500 controllers short of its target staffing level, and many have been working extended hours and six-day weeks since before the shutdown.

Controllers missing paychecks have begun searching for temporary jobs to make ends meet. “They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking,” Duffy said.

The standoff in Congress shows no signs of ending. Duffy and other Republicans have blamed Democrats for rejecting a short-term funding bill, while Democrats accuse President Donald Trump and the GOP of refusing to negotiate over expiring health care subsidies.

The current shutdown mirrors the 35-day closure in 2019, when rising absenteeism among air traffic controllers and TSA officers led to flight delays in New York and Washington, and long lines at security checkpoints nationwide.

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