An increasing number of air traffic controllers have called in sick since the shutdown began, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said.
Major U.S. airports have reported experiencing flight delays amid the shutdown of the federal government.
Secretary of Transport Sean Duffy told reporters on Monday that air traffic control towers were experiencing staffing issues, with an increasing number of air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began.
While some 13,000 controllers have not been furloughed during the shutdown, as they are deemed critical staff, there is no guarantee that they will be paid. There are also some 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who are still expected to continue working during the shutdown. Their next paycheck is due Oct. 14.
Duffy said he was receiving reports of varied levels of absenteeism across the nation’s airports, which rely on air traffic controllers from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to keep the skies safe and operational. He said the department was tracking the staff shortages, which have been reported in “one area in one day, another area another day.”
Absenteeism has reached up to 50 percent in one instance, he said.
According to the FAA, the staffing issues for controllers are impacting flights at numerous airports, including Newark, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, and Hollywood’s Burbank. FlightAware said more than 5,500 U.S. flights had experienced delays on Monday, including 32 percent of arriving flights at Denver, 22 percent of Newark flights, and 15 percent of Burbank flights. The weather was also impacting flights.
While U.S. airspace is currently safe, “If we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” Duffy said. “You’ll see more delays, or you might see a cancellation.”
But he expressed concerns that the “high-skilled, high-performing, safety-driven professionals” will be forced into taking up second jobs if the government shutdown doesn’t end soon.
“I don’t want them driving Uber. I don’t want them finding a second job to pay the bills. I want them to get paid for the work that they’re doing today, keeping our planes in the air and our skies safe,” Duffy said.
“It’s time for [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries] to quit their games and reopen the government,” he posted on X.
By Melanie Sun
