WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The White House and Republican leaders are warning that a prolonged U.S. government shutdown could cause major holiday travel disruptions, as thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers continue to work without pay.
Flight Delays Expected to Rise
The shutdown, now in its 23rd day, has left about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers working without pay. Controllers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday.
“We fear there will be significant flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations in major airports across the country this holiday season,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“If Democrats continue to shut down the government, they will also be shutting down American air travel.”
Democrats have rejected this claim, arguing that President Donald Trump and Republican leaders are responsible for the impasse by refusing to negotiate on key issues.
Air Traffic Control Becomes Political Flashpoint
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Thursday that he could not guarantee smooth operations amid the staffing crisis:
“I can’t guarantee that your flight will be on time or that it won’t be canceled. It’s going to depend on our air traffic controllers coming into work every single day,” Duffy said during a Capitol Hill press conference.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), air traffic control absences have caused:
- 53% of flight delays early in the shutdown (compared to 5% normally)
- 21% of delays on Tuesday this week
- 1% of delays on Monday and Wednesday
Funding Battle in Congress
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not have enough resources to pay controllers and called on Democrats to pass legislation to reopen the government.
The Senate is set to consider a proposal to pay essential workers during the shutdown.
Democrats, meanwhile, are demanding that Republicans approve new healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to prevent rising insurance premiums for Americans.
“Donald Trump needs to come to the table and negotiate,” said Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.
Both parties continue to blame each other, while unions and airlines are urging a swift resolution to avoid travel chaos.
Political Rhetoric Heats Up
Speaker Johnson criticized Democrats for the shutdown’s travel impacts, saying:
“Football fans: if you are stuck in the airport this weekend while your favorite team is about to kick off, you can blame the Democrats.”
The dispute mirrors the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days — during which controller absences and unpaid TSA officers led to longer security lines and forced air traffic slowdowns in New York and Washington.
FAA Staffing Shortages Add to the Pressure
The FAA is currently about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its target staffing levels. Many of those on duty have already been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks, even before the shutdown began.
With no immediate resolution in sight, aviation experts warn that the holiday travel season could face one of its worst disruptions in years if the standoff continues.
