Major airports across the United States are experiencing severe flight delays and disruptions as the government shutdown enters its seventh day, crippling the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to widespread air traffic controller shortages.
The FAA has warned that Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport will not have enough controllers on Tuesday night, while Nashville’s air traffic facility has been forced to close temporarily after multiple controllers called in sick.
Similar staff shortages have hit Houston, Newark, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas, resulting in cascading delays across the national airspace system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that more controllers are missing work due to anxiety and uncertainty about their paychecks.
“They’re worried about how to pay their mortgages, car payments, and feed their families,” Duffy told Fox News.
While air traffic controllers are classified as essential workers and must report for duty during shutdowns, the pressure of working without pay has pushed many to breaking point.
Critical staffing crisis
At Chicago’s O’Hare, controllers are expected to be short-staffed for up to nine hours, leading to average delays of 41 minutes for arriving flights. In Nashville, the situation is worse, the control tower was shut for five hours, forcing flights to reroute through Memphis.
The Hollywood Burbank Airport in California experienced a full tower shutdown Monday, leaving pilots to coordinate their own takeoffs and landings using the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), a system typically reserved for small local airports.
Experts say this increases the risk of airspace miscommunication and delays, especially at busy hubs.
Industry and Passenger reactions
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have called for an immediate end to the shutdown, citing rising safety concerns.
“The system is running on fumes,” a NATCA spokesperson said. “We’re one sick call away from grounding entire regions.”
Passengers have taken to social media to vent frustration, with videos showing long lines at airports and missed connections nationwide. Airlines have begun waiving change fees for affected travelers.
Looking ahead
Experts warn that if the shutdown continues beyond this week, the situation could escalate into a full-blown national travel crisis. The FAA says it is prioritizing safety but admits that delays are likely to worsen.
Congress remains deadlocked over the spending bill, with no clear path to reopening the government.
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