Air travel delays are plaguing airports in New York, Washington, Newark, and Houston due to air traffic control staffing issues, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday as the U.S. government shutdown entered its 23rd day.
The FAA reported staffing problems at 10 different locations and implemented ground stops at Houston Bush and Newark airports. In Washington D.C., flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were experiencing an average delay of 31 minutes, while delays at New York LaGuardia were averaging 62 minutes.
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay during the government shutdown.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, over 4,200 U.S. flights were delayed on Thursday, with more than 15% of flights at Reagan, Newark, and LaGuardia airports affected, along with 13% at Bush airport.
Federal officials expressed concerns that controller absences could escalate over the weekend, especially as controllers will 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,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The debate over the shutdown has intensified, with Democrats refuting claims of responsibility and pointing fingers at U.S. President Donald Trump and Republicans for their refusal to negotiate.
The air traffic control situation has become a contentious issue in the shutdown discussions, with both parties blaming each other. Unions and airlines are urging a swift resolution to the standoff.
During a 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of absences by controllers and TSA officers increased as workers went without pay, leading to extended checkpoint wait times at certain airports. This forced authorities to reduce air traffic flow in New York and Washington, prompting lawmakers to end the deadlock.
Even before the shutdown, the FAA faced a shortage of about 3,500 air traffic controllers compared to its target staffing levels, with many controllers already working overtime and six-day weeks.