WASHINGTON, D.C. — Air travelers across the United States faced delays over the weekend as air traffic control staffing shortages disrupted operations at several major airports, including Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Newark, amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, now in its 19th day.
Staffing Triggers and Widespread Delays
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Sunday night that staffing shortfalls had prompted operational triggers at key air traffic facilities.
By Monday morning, most of those staffing issues had been resolved. However, a staffing trigger remained in place in the Philadelphia area, which also affects flights going into Newark Liberty International Airport.
It remains unclear whether this particular staffing trigger directly impacted flight schedules, though travelers experienced residual delays nationwide.
Flight Delay Overview
According to FlightAware, as of early Monday, a total of 846 flights within the U.S. had been delayed. Despite the FAA’s staffing concerns, Philadelphia and Newark were not among the top airports for delays.
The FAA also noted Sunday evening that additional staffing triggers had been received for the evening shift, potentially affecting Las Vegas and Phoenix due to air traffic control absences. By Monday morning, neither airport listed staffing-related issues.
Transportation Secretary Addresses the Issue
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addressed the situation Monday on Fox & Friends, linking the problem directly to the federal shutdown.
“Because of the current government shutdown, air traffic controllers will not be paid,” Duffy said. “A lot of them are seeking other work to keep their families afloat.”
Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues through the next pay period, the aviation system could see more severe disruptions.
“I hope we don’t see more disruptions,” he said. “But as this gets closer to payday, you could see more of that throughout the airspace.”
Additional Factors: Weather and Events
While staffing shortages were a major factor, weather conditions and the Formula 1 race in Austin, Texas, also contributed to widespread delays.
According to FlightAware, more than 7,600 flights were delayed nationwide on Sunday.
- American Airlines and Southwest Airlines were among the hardest hit, with more than 20% of their flights delayed that day.
Essential Workers Without Pay
Despite the shutdown, roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are still required to work, even though they are not being paid.
Earlier this month, over 23,000 flights were delayed over a single week. Secretary Duffy noted that 53% of those delays were due to staffing issues, compared to an average of just 5% under normal operations.
Although conditions had slightly improved in recent days, the latest shortages renewed pressure on both lawmakers and aviation unions to end the standoff.
Shutdown Politics and Aviation Fallout
Air traffic control staffing has become a major flashpoint in the broader debate over the government shutdown, with both political parties trading blame.
Unions and airlines have jointly urged the government to reach an agreement quickly, warning that flight safety and national travel reliability could be at risk.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been airing videos at airport security checkpoints blaming Democrats for the shutdown — though many airports have refused to display the footage.
Historical Context
During the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days, the number of controller and TSA absences rose sharply as workers missed paychecks.
This led to longer checkpoint wait times and slower air traffic in New York and Washington, forcing lawmakers to end the standoff after mounting public pressure.
The FAA is currently 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its target staffing level. Many controllers had already been working mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks even before the current shutdown began.
