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Staff Shortages Lead to Delayed Flights Amid Government Shutdown
Airports across the country experienced ground delays because of a shortage of air traffic staff during the government shutdown. Transportation officials said that there was a slight uptick in controllers calling in sick.
“The controllers have to show up for work. They’re part of our critical infrastructure. The problem is they’re going to show up for work and they’re not going to get paychecks. They have bills they have to pay. So now they’re thinking about that at the same time that they’re controlling the airspace. We want them to leave their personal problems at the door when they go into a tower or into a facility. I want to be clear. Do I think they’re more stressed right now in our towers? Yes. Is our airspace unsafe? No.” “Yeah, that would be hard to work for no pay. But I think they understand the importance of their job and the safety that it provides to us as travelers.”
Airports across the country experienced ground delays because of a shortage of air traffic staff during the government shutdown. Transportation officials said that there was a slight uptick in controllers calling in sick.
By Nailah Morgan
October 7, 2025
