U.S. may close parts of airspace as government shutdown forces controllers to work without pay
By isabelle // 2025-11-05
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  • Air traffic controllers are working without pay due to a government shutdown.
  • The shutdown has caused thousands of flight delays and cancellations.
  • Officials warn parts of U.S. airspace may close if the shutdown continues.
  • Airlines and travel groups are pleading with Congress to resolve the standoff.
  • Safety officials admit the risk in the aviation system is increasing.
The nation's air travel system is on the brink of collapse, and your holiday travel plans are directly in the crosshairs. A political standoff in Washington has left air traffic controllers working without pay, leading to thousands of flight delays and a warning from the Trump administration that segments of U.S. airspace may soon be closed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued the grave warning on Tuesday, stating that the administration may be forced to close parts of the airspace if the 35-day government shutdown continues. The funding lapse has already triggered massive disruptions, with at least 2,900 flight delays recorded on Monday alone due to a surge in absences among unpaid air traffic controllers. Duffy projected “mass chaos” if the impasse persists for another week. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers,” he said at a news briefing. This dire prediction highlights the immediate and tangible consequences of the political gridlock, moving beyond partisan talking points to real-world travel nightmares for millions of Americans. The situation is creating untenable choices for the essential workers who keep the skies safe. Duffy expressed concern that controllers are being forced to decide between their duty and their finances. “Do they go to work as an air traffic controller, or do they have to find a different job to get resources, money, to put food on their table, to put gas in their car?” he asked. This financial pressure is directly impacting staffing levels and, by extension, the entire national airspace system.

Airline industry pleads for resolution

Major airlines are now sounding the alarm. Delta Air Lines issued a public appeal, imploring Congress to act. “Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve,” the airline stated. The company warned that a stressed system must be slowed down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for millions of daily passengers. The travel industry at large is joining the call for a resolution. Roughly 500 travel industry groups urged Congress to pass a continuing resolution on Monday, warning of “devastating” impacts if the shutdown continues into the critical holiday travel period. The collective voice of the industry underscores the widespread economic damage and logistical chaos that is already unfolding. Despite the escalating crisis, a solution appears elusive. Senate Democrats voted against a clean continuing resolution for the 14th time on Tuesday, deepening the political stalemate. The White House has placed blame on Democrats for the shutdown, while Democratic leaders have fired back with their own accusations.

Safety concerns escalate

While officials maintain that the system remains safe, they openly acknowledge that the risk is growing. Duffy affirmed that if the airspace was not safe, the DOT would “shut it down.” However, he conceded that the current situation introduces new dangers. “With this shutdown, it would be dishonest to say that more risk is not injected into the system,” Duffy stated. “There is more risk in the system.” This admission confirms the fears of aviation professionals. The union representing air traffic controllers has been vocal about the escalating safety concerns. “Every single day that this goes on, tomorrow is now less safe than today,” said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He highlighted the impossible position of controllers, stating, “I’m going to work right now, and I’m thinking about, ‘how do I pay my rent?’” The effects are being felt at major airports across the country. Over the weekend, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport reported security wait times of up to three hours due to TSA staffing shortages. Airports in Newark and New York experienced more than a hundred delays and numerous cancellations. The Transportation Security Administration acknowledged that while most operations remain minimally impacted, “the longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce.” The breakdown in America's air travel system serves as a reminder of what happens when political gamesmanship overrides basic governance. The failure to fund the government has placed an unfair burden on essential workers and now threatens to strand millions of travelers. As the shutdown drags on, the very infrastructure that connects the nation is being deliberately compromised, proving that in Washington, it is the American people who are ultimately held hostage. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NBCNews.com CNN.com
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