WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of flights across the United States have been delayed this week, raising pressure on Congress to resolve the ongoing government shutdown that has now entered its second week.
Flight Delays Mount as Shutdown Enters Week Two
The shutdown began after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before midnight last Wednesday, resulting in the closure or reduced operations of several federal agencies.
One of the most visible impacts has been staffing shortages at air traffic control towers, leading to widespread flight delays from New York to Los Angeles.
According to FlightAware, there were approximately 10,000 delayed flights within, into, or out of the U.S. on Monday and Tuesday, followed by another 4,000 delays on Wednesday alone.
Transportation Secretary Calls Out Absenteeism
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the situation in a Fox News interview Wednesday, saying:
“Historically, there’s about five percent of delays attributed to staffing issues in our towers. In the last couple of days, it’s been 53 percent. My message to air traffic controllers: show up for work — you have a job to do.”
Like other essential federal employees, air traffic controllers are required to work without pay during the shutdown. However, Duffy confirmed a slight increase in sick calls, which has contributed to delays.
“We’re tracking sick calls and sick leave. Have we had a slight tick up? Yes — and you’ll see delays that come from that,” Duffy told reporters Monday.
Lawmakers Trade Blame Over Shutdown
As delays worsen, Democrats and Republicans continue to blame each other for the crisis.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized former President Donald Trump, saying his administration’s shutdown “has caused flight delays in Los Angeles,” noting that Hollywood Burbank Airport had no air traffic controllers for nearly six hours on Monday.
In response, Duffy argued that Democrats are responsible for the stalemate, claiming his party “can’t get its priorities straight.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) condemned what she called “Republicans’ government shutdown,” saying it’s “making flying even more miserable.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) referred to the situation as the “Schumer Shutdown,” blaming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the financial strain on air traffic controllers.
Flight Delays Could Pressure Congress to Act
History shows that air travel disruptions have played a role in ending shutdowns before.
During the 35-day shutdown of 2018–2019, hundreds of air traffic controllers called out sick, causing massive flight delays and temporary closures at major airports — pressure that eventually pushed lawmakers to reopen the government.
Former Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who chaired the House Transportation Committee during that time, told Politico the same dynamic could unfold again:
“It did last time, but it took a long time. The government only opened back up after massive delays.”
However, not all lawmakers are convinced that flight chaos will move the needle this time.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) told Politico she doesn’t believe the issue will break the deadlock, saying the standoff is “about health care.”
The Political Standoff: Health Care at the Center
Democrats are pushing for a reversal of Medicaid cuts included in Trump’s July spending bill, as well as an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies as part of any deal to fund the government.
Republicans, meanwhile, have falsely claimed that Democrats want to offer free healthcare to undocumented immigrants — despite the fact that the group is ineligible for federal healthcare programs, except in emergency situations.
The ongoing budget dispute has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay, while flight delays continue to mount nationwide.
✈️ Key Takeaway
As flight disruptions ripple across the country, frustration among travelers — and pressure on Congress — continues to grow. If history repeats itself, massive air travel delays could once again become the tipping point that forces lawmakers to end the shutdown.
