WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. transportation secretary warned on Sunday that flight delays across the country are likely to worsen, as air traffic controllers continue to work without pay amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Controllers “Wearing Thin” Amid Shutdown
“The controllers are wearing thin,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Sunday, as a ground stop was issued for much of California’s coast due to staffing shortages.
Since the government shut down on October 1, thousands of air traffic controllers, who are considered essential workers, have been required to continue working without paychecks.
But as the shutdown drags on, many have begun calling out sick or seeking second jobs, causing significant delays at airports across the country.
More Than 3,000 Flights Delayed
According to flight tracking data, over 3,000 U.S. flights were delayed on Sunday.
Duffy said that on Saturday alone, 22 staffing alerts were issued for airports nationwide — one of the highest numbers since the shutdown began.
“I am seeing the stress,” Duffy said in an interview on Sunday Morning Futures.
“They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking — ‘Can I drive Uber, can I find another source of income to make ends meet?’”
Ground Stops Hit Major Airports
On Sunday morning, a staffing-related ground stop affected Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — the fifth-busiest airport in the U.S. — as well as flights stretching north to Oakland.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the alert at 8:45 a.m. local time, and many flights resumed by midday, though delays persisted.
Elsewhere, flights at Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed an average of 82 minutes, while Dallas Fort-Worth, the second-busiest airport in the nation, faced potential staffing issues later in the day.
The FAA urged passengers in California to check with their airlines for updated departure times.
The Shutdown’s Growing Impact
The U.S. government shutdown entered its 26th day on Sunday, making it the second-longest in American history.
Secretary Duffy has repeatedly warned that aviation regulators may reduce the number of planes in the air when there is a shortage of qualified safety personnel.
When asked whether it was safe to fly, Duffy avoided a direct answer, instead appealing to air traffic controllers:
“I need my controllers focused on the airspace, not on the finances at home,” he said.
Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The staffing crisis comes just one day before Game 3 of the World Series in Los Angeles, and less than a month before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S.
Travel experts warn that if the shutdown continues, holiday travel disruptions could become severe, affecting millions of passengers.
History Repeating Itself
A similar situation helped end the 2019 government shutdown, when widespread flight delays and controller absences forced political leaders to act.
In January 2019, after several controllers stayed home, New York’s LaGuardia Airport was temporarily shut down. That same day, then-President Donald Trump agreed to sign a short-term spending bill, ending the 35-day shutdown — the longest in U.S. history.
“Strain on U.S. air travel helped end the last shutdown,” Duffy noted. “We’re seeing history start to repeat itself.”
