U.S. Government Shutdown Threatens Closure of Parts of National Airspace, Says Transport Secretary
The United States Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, has warned that if the ongoing government shutdown continues into next week, the Department of Transportation may be forced to close sections of the nation’s airspace due to critical staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Duffy stated that the aviation system is already facing what he described as “mass chaos,” with tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and transportation security officers working without pay during the prolonged funding lapse.
According to Duffy, the shortage of controllers has already triggered severe delays and flight cancellations at major airports across the country. He explained that if a second missed paycheck occurs, absentee rates could rise even higher, forcing the department to take extreme safety measures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reportedly indicated that as many as 40 percent of air traffic controllers at the nation’s busiest airports are failing to report for duty, with certain facilities in regions like New York experiencing absentee rates as high as 80 percent.
Duffy emphasized that public safety remains the department’s top concern and that the potential closure of airspace would only be implemented if controller shortages make continued operations unsafe. “You will see mass flight delays, you will see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it,” he said.
The shutdown, which has entered its fifth week, has already inflicted billions of dollars in estimated economic losses on the travel and tourism industries. Airlines are struggling to maintain schedules, and travelers across the nation are experiencing significant disruptions. Industry executives have called on Congress and the White House to resolve the funding impasse immediately, warning that continued instability could cripple the aviation sector during the upcoming holiday travel period.
As the political deadlock continues, the Department of Transportation faces mounting pressure to ensure both operational safety and the stability of the U.S. air travel system. If no resolution is reached soon, travelers could face widespread cancellations and major disruptions nationwide.
