BALTIMORE (Reuters) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delayed flights for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, affecting major airports including Reagan Washington National and Newark Liberty International Airport, as staffing shortages worsened amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
Flight Delays Continue Nationwide
By 5:30 p.m. ET (2130 GMT), nearly 3,000 flights had been delayed, following more than 10,000 total delays on Monday and Tuesday. Thousands of these disruptions were tied to the FAA’s decision to slow air traffic because of air traffic controller absences across the country.
As the shutdown entered its eighth day, some flights at Reagan National were forced to hold in the air due to airspace slowdowns, according to the FAA.
Transportation Secretary Duffy Addresses Staffing Crisis
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy highlighted the growing problem, telling Fox News’ Will Cain Show:
“Historically, there’s about 5% of delays attributed to staffing issues in our towers. The last couple days it has been 53%. My message to the air traffic controllers who work for DOT is — show up for work. You have a job to do.”
Duffy noted that the staffing issues are emerging earlier than during the 2019 government shutdown, which also saw significant air travel disruptions.
“The bottom line is these controllers are stressed out, and they’re rebelling on this shutdown because they may not get paid,” he added.
Political Leaders Call for Action
At Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and congressional Democrats urged lawmakers to end the shutdown, emphasizing that both air traffic controllers and TSA officers are currently working without pay.
Moore criticized the standoff, saying former President Donald Trump “could not close a deal” to keep the government running.
Representative Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) called for supplemental legislation to ensure controllers are paid during future shutdowns:
“People are beginning to worry now about flying, and we should as a nation never get to that point,” he said.
Shutdown Echoes of 2019
During the 35-day shutdown in 2019, absenteeism among air traffic controllers and TSA officers surged as paychecks were missed, leading to extended wait times and slowed air traffic — particularly in New York.
The strain ultimately pressured lawmakers into reopening the government.
Now, around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are still required to report for duty without pay. Controllers are expected to receive a partial paycheck on October 14 for work completed before the shutdown began.
“Our BWI workers are still here,” Moore said. “They’re doing it because they’re patriots. They’re doing it because they know this work matters.”
DOT Secures Temporary Funding for Essential Services
Separately, Secretary Duffy confirmed that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) had secured $41 million in funding to maintain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program through early November.
The EAS program provides government-subsidized flights to rural and remote regions.
Several airlines — including Alaska Airlines — have pledged to continue operating these flights even if reimbursements are delayed due to the shutdown.
Long-Term Staffing Shortages Add Pressure
The U.S. has faced air traffic controller shortages for over a decade. Even before the shutdown, many controllers were working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks to meet demand.
The FAA is currently about 3,500 controllers short of its targeted staffing levels, a gap now amplified by the ongoing pay suspension and worker absences.
✈️ Key Takeaway
With staffing shortages worsening and no end in sight to the government shutdown, flight delays and cancellations are likely to continue impacting major U.S. airports. Officials and airline passengers alike are urging swift bipartisan action to restore funding and stabilize the nation’s aviation system.
