US Air Traffic Controllers Miss First Paychecks amid Prolonged Shutdown Disrupting Airport Operations

The ongoing federal government shutdown has forced air traffic controllers, TSA workers, and other federal aviation employees to work without pay, with many receiving their first zero-dollar paycheck after nearly a month of unpaid labor. This financial strain is causing some employees to seek side jobs such as ridesharing or babysitting to stay afloat, while others have started calling in sick due to stress and exhaustion. Staffing shortages at airports like Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin-Bergstrom have led to flight delays and ground holds, threatening the efficiency and safety of air travel especially as the holiday travel season approaches. Unions such as the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists and the Air Line Pilots Association have urged Congress to end the shutdown promptly, emphasizing that safety is at risk when essential aviation workers are under financial and operational stress. Workers have also organized leafleting campaigns at major airports to raise public awareness and pressure lawmakers to resolve the impasse. Despite the promise of back pay once the shutdown ends, the uncertainty is causing significant disruption to the national air transportation system and increasing risks to passenger safety.