October 26, 2025 – U.S. airports have reported over 20 incidents of air traffic controller shortages as the ongoing government shutdown continues to disrupt operations, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Since the shutdown began on October 1, approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers have been required to work without pay. The situation has led to increasing flight delays and cancellations, with over 5,300 delays recorded on Saturday alone. By Sunday afternoon, over 2,500 delays had already been reported.
Duffy warned that as controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday, the shortages could worsen, exacerbating flight disruptions. He noted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport earlier on Sunday due to a shortage of controllers.
The FAA, which is already short of approximately 3,500 controllers, has been operating with mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks even before the shutdown. As controllers miss paychecks, many are seeking second jobs to make ends meet.
In a similar crisis during the 2019 shutdown, air traffic delays and worker absences led to slower air traffic in New York and Washington, D.C., raising concerns about safety and service quality.
With no resolution in sight for the budget deadlock, Duffy predicted that flight disruptions would continue, putting increasing pressure on lawmakers to end the shutdown and restore normal airport operations.
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