Air travel delays are being caused by air traffic control staffing problems at key airports in New York, Washington, Newark, and Houston due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has identified staffing challenges at 10 different locations, leading to ground stops at Houston Bush and Newark airports. Flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport are experiencing an average delay of 31 minutes, while New York LaGuardia flights are facing an average delay of 62 minutes.
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers in the U.S. are working without pay during the shutdown. FlightAware, a flight tracking website, reported over 4,200 delayed U.S. flights on Thursday, with more than 15% of flights impacted at Reagan, Newark, and LaGuardia, and 13% at Bush.
Federal officials are concerned that the number of controller absences may rise over the weekend, especially as controllers anticipate missing their first full paycheck by Tuesday. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, expressed worries about potential flight disruptions and cancellations at major airports during the holiday season.
The blame game continues with Democrats refuting accusations of responsibility and pointing fingers at U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republicans for their refusal to engage in negotiations. The air traffic control issue has become a focal point in the shutdown debate, with both parties accusing each other. Unions and airlines are calling for a swift resolution to the standoff.
During a previous 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of absences among controllers and TSA officers increased as workers faced delayed paychecks, leading to extended checkpoint wait times at certain airports. This situation forced authorities to implement air traffic slowdowns in New York and Washington, pressuring lawmakers to end the deadlock.
Even before the shutdown, the FAA was already experiencing a shortage of about 3,500 air traffic controllers compared to the desired staffing levels, with many controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
