Shutdown Triggers Air Traffic Controller Shortages, Delays

The ongoing federal government shutdown has left TSA agents and air traffic controllers working without pay, prompting rising stress and absenteeism that officials warn could multiply flight delays and disruptions. The FAA has issued ground stops and slowed traffic at multiple facilities — including a 75-minute ground stop at Newark — and is restricting operations when staffing is thin to maintain safety. FlightAware reported more than 2,700 delays by 4 p.m. Wednesday on top of roughly 21,000 earlier in the week, and more than 500 cancellations have been reported. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and union leaders say controller callouts increased after the first missed paycheck, a pattern seen in the 2018–19 shutdown; by law controllers will receive back pay after the lapse ends, though uncertainty about staffing remains. Travel agents and airports are urging passengers to arrive early and monitor flight status as most delays so far have been isolated and temporary but pockets of severe disruption have occurred.