Airports across the United States are facing increasingly severe delays, longer security lines and overcrowded terminals, as the effects of the ongoing government shutdown continue to ripple through the aviation system. At the center of the disruption are air traffic controllers, nearly 13,000 of whom have now worked more than a month without pay.
Because air traffic control is a critical safety function, controllers are required to work even during shutdowns. But the strain is becoming harder to contain. Staffing shortages at major airports — including Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, Boston and Atlanta — have begun to slow departures and impose ground holds, meaning planes remain on the runway before takeoff. These bottlenecks cause delays that cascade through the national air network, affecting flights even in regions not experiencing shortages directly.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged on Sunday that conditions are likely to worsen if the shutdown continues.
“I think the real consequence is what kind of rolling delays do you have throughout the system, right? We’ve seen problems at LAX, in Dallas, in DC, Boston, Atlanta. I think it’s only going to get worse. We have some controllers who are new controllers. We have trainee controllers who are very helpful in the tower. They don’t make a lot of money. And they’re now confronted. They haven’t had a paycheck in over a month. They’re confronted with the decision: do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid.”
Duffy stressed that, for now, the system remains safe, but noted that the government would halt air traffic entirely if safety became compromised. Until then, travelers should be prepared for more delays and cancellations.
The shutdown has now entered its fifth week with no indication of a resolution. The standoff hinges on disagreements over federal funding priorities. President Donald Trump told 60 Minutes that he will not reopen the government until Democrats drop their push to include health care funding in the federal spending bill. Democrats, meanwhile, say they will not move forward unless Republicans agree to extend subsidies for the more than 20 million Americans who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
For travelers, the effects are straightforward: longer waits, uncertain itineraries and fewer available rebooking options as the system strains under reduced staffing. With the holiday travel season nearing, airlines and passengers alike are bracing for the possibility that the situation could continue — or worsen — in the weeks ahead.
