Air traffic control staffing challenges are causing travel disruptions at major airports in New York, Washington, Newark, and Houston, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announcement on Thursday. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now in its 23rd day, has led to staffing issues at 10 different locations, resulting in ground stops at Houston Bush and Newark airports. Delays are 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 the shutdown. FlightAware, a flight tracking platform, reported over 4,200 delayed U.S. flights on Thursday, with more than 15% of flights delayed at Reagan, Newark, and LaGuardia, and 13% at Bush.
Federal officials express concern about potential increased absences among controllers over the weekend as they face missing their first full paycheck on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned of possible significant flight disruptions and cancellations during the upcoming holiday season.
The shutdown debate intensifies as Democrats refute claims of responsibility, placing blame on U.S. President Donald Trump and Republicans for the lack of negotiation. Air traffic control has emerged as a focal point in this dispute, with unions and airlines urging a swift resolution to the standoff.
During a previous 35-day shutdown in 2019, controller and TSA officer absences rose as workers struggled with missed paychecks, leading to extended checkpoint wait times at airports. This situation forced authorities to slow air traffic in New York and Washington until the standoff was resolved.
The FAA currently faces a shortage of approximately 3,500 air traffic controllers compared to its target staffing levels. Many controllers were already working extensive mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began.
