Government Shutdown Causes Widespread Flight Delays Across US

Travellers across the United States are facing long waits as unpaid air traffic controllers struggle to keep flights running amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Staffing shortages have disrupted operations at nearly half of the country’s 30 major airports, including those in New York City, Austin, Newark, Phoenix, Washington, Nashville, Dallas, and Denver.

The shutdown has thrown flight operations nationwide into chaos. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week that air traffic controllers have been working without pay for over a month, leading to extreme fatigue. According to The Guardian, roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees have been required to stay on duty without pay during the shutdown.

Flight-tracking website FlightAware reported that more than 4,500 flights were delayed and 500 cancelled on Friday alone. The shutdown, which began on October 1, continues with lawmakers in Congress still unable to agree on a funding bill. Airlines, citing growing safety concerns, have urged the government to resolve the impasse immediately.

Transportation Secretary Duffy told ABC on Sunday that the aviation agency would take every possible measure to ensure travellers’ safety. He warned that when one controller is forced to handle the work of two, it compromises safety and increases systemic risk.

Lawmakers remain at an impasse, as the Republican-backed funding bill has repeatedly failed in the Senate. As part of negotiations to end the shutdown, Democrats are pushing to renew tax credits that lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans.