Department of Transportation Warns of Airspace Closures Amid Shutdown

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Tuesday that if the ongoing government shutdown persists, the department might need to limit certain areas of the nation’s airspace next week.

Duffy placed the blame for the 35-day standoff on Congressional Democrats, cautioning reporters that unless a resolution is reached by November 11, the air travel system could face significant disruptions. This could result in widespread flight delays and cancellations, and potentially the restriction of certain airspace due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

“It would be disingenuous to say that this shutdown doesn’t inject more risk into the system,” Duffy remarked, noting an increase in operational risks.

As of last Tuesday, air traffic controllers received no pay for the first time since the shutdown began, following a period where they received “80 to 90 percent” of their salaries in mid-October. Duffy informed that controllers would soon receive an email indicating their $0 pay stub for the coming Tuesday.

This financial strain is pushing some air traffic controllers to seek second jobs, as Duffy put it, “to put food on the table and gas in the car.”

“Many of us can manage being one paycheck short. Not everyone, but many. But no one can really cope with being two paychecks behind,” he explained, referring to the concerns voiced by controllers.

As of Tuesday, news reports indicated over 2,000 flights to and from the U.S. had been delayed, while more than 60 were canceled, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.

There are questions about how many flights will ultimately be impacted due to the lack of controllers. Duffy highlighted an alarming rise in the percentage of delays attributed to staffing issues, which climbed from the typical 5 percent to 53 percent.

In response to inquiries, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a detailed statement explaining that, due to the controller shortage, they are “curtailing the flow of flights to some airports to ensure safe operations.”

However, Duffy noted that attendance rates among air traffic controllers are “much better than in past shutdowns.” He referenced the last major funding crisis from January 2019, where controller shortages led to significant delays along the East Coast.

Despite the difficulties, Duffy expressed optimism about a swift recovery for the air travel system once the shutdown concludes. “The controllers will hopefully start going back to work soon,” he concluded.