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The Federal Aviation Administration has warned of a severe staffing crisis as 13,000 unpaid air traffic controllers continue working amid the US government shutdown, causing major flight delays and safety concerns nationwide.
The Federal Aviation Administration has warned of a severe staffing crisis as 13,000 unpaid air traffic controllers. (Image: Reuters)
UPDATED: Nov 1, 2025 07:15 IST
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sounded the alarm as nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers continue to work without pay amid the shutdown, managing more than 50,000 daily flights across the US despite growing fatigue and staffing shortages.
“Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations,” the FAA said in a post on X on Friday. “After 31 days without pay, controllers are under immense stress and fatigue. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they’ve earned.”
The warning comes as travel delays pile up nationwide, with the FAA confirming widespread disruptions at major airports, including New York, Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
STAFFING CRISIS HITS MAJOR HUBS
According to the FAA, nearly half of all major air traffic control facilities are now dealing with severe staffing shortages. In the New York region, which handles the country’s densest airspace, about 80 to 90 percent of controllers are reportedly out or unavailable.
“As we head into the weekend, a surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple facilities,” the agency said. “We will never compromise on safety. When shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.”
The agency’s online status dashboard, nasstatus.faa.gov, showed delays averaging up to two hours Friday evening at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports.
SHUTDOWN FALLOUT WIDENS
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning for days that the longer the shutdown drags on, the worse the situation will get for travellers.
“Every day there’s going to be more challenges,” Duffy told reporters outside the White House after meeting Vice President JD Vance and aviation industry leaders Thursday.
Flight tracking firm Cirium said the US air system showed its first “broad slowdown” since the shutdown began on October 1, with below-average on-time performance across major airports. At Orlando Airport, some delays stretched past four hours Thursday.
Even Los Angeles Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs, briefly halted departures last weekend due to staffing shortages. The FAA later lifted the two-hour ground stop, but the message was clear: strain is spreading.
CONTROLLERS JUGGLE BILLS AND BURNOUT
The Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) says most controllers are now working six days a week on mandatory overtime, often with little chance to take second jobs to cover basic expenses.
“For this nation’s air traffic controllers, missing just one pay cheque can be a significant hardship,” said NATCA President Nick Daniels. “Asking them to go without a full month’s pay or more is simply not sustainable.”
Some airports, including Houston and Nashville, have stepped in to provide meals and support for unpaid aviation staff, a gesture that underscores the human cost of a prolonged shutdown.
Before the standoff even began, the FAA was already short by roughly 3,000 controllers, a shortage now compounded by fatigue and attrition.
“We’re at the breaking point,” said one FAA official privately. “Controllers are exhausted, but they’re still showing up, because safety is non-negotiable.”
- Ends
With inputs from Associated Press
Published By:
Akshat Trivedi
Published On:
Nov 1, 2025
