Escalating Concerns Over Flight Delays and Missed Paychecks
Washington is witnessing growing concerns over flight delays and missed paychecks due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The situation has worsened as senators rejected another attempt to end the deadlock, with Democrats voting for the sixth time to block a Republican stopgap funding measure. This decision has left many federal workers either at home or working without pay.
As the shutdown enters its eighth day, there are indications that airport lines will become longer, especially as absenteeism among security and safety staff increases at some of the country’s busiest hubs. Air traffic controllers, considered essential workers, continue to be on duty during government shutdowns. However, more of them are calling in sick rather than working without pay, leading to staffing shortages.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported staffing issues in nearly a dozen airports, including Chicago, Boston, Burbank, and Houston. Additional problems are expected at Newark, a major hub serving the New York City area. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern about the rising number of sick days taken by air traffic controllers, stating that they are stressed and worried about their financial stability.
“We’re having maybe a bit of rebellion by air traffic controllers caused by the shutdown,” Duffy said. “They are wondering how they put food on the table.”
Duffy noted that approximately 53% of current flight delays are due to staffing shortages, compared to around 5% in recent months before the shutdown. He emphasized that air traffic controllers must show up for work, even though they are not being paid, as they will eventually receive their compensation.
No End in Sight
Aviation monitoring service FlightAware reported approximately 10,000 flights delayed on Monday and Tuesday. Although this number is not considered unusually high, the FAA has warned that the situation could deteriorate further. The agency stated that increased staffing shortages across the system have led to slower traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.
There is little hope of a quick resolution to the shutdown, as Democrats remain steadfast in their refusal to support any funding bill that does not include an extension of expiring health care subsidies for 24 million people. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been pushing for votes on a temporary fix passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives, but these efforts have failed to gain enough Democratic support.
Meanwhile, President Trump continues to threaten turning the 750,000 enforced absences—known as furloughs—into permanent layoffs. A draft memo circulated by the White House this week suggested that furloughed workers are not guaranteed compensation for their time off, which could mean they might lose out on back pay.
Some federal workers, including those from the U.S. Capitol Police, are set to miss part of their pay for the first time on Friday, increasing pressure on Congress to resolve the crisis. A more significant issue is approaching next Wednesday, when 1.3 million active-duty service members, along with tens of thousands of National Guard members and thousands of Coast Guard personnel, are scheduled to miss their first paycheck.
