FAA Flight Reductions Due to Controller Shortage

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to reduce flight schedules by 10% because of a shortage of air traffic controllers. This reduction could potentially reach 20% if a government shutdown continues.

During a Breitbart News event in Washington, D.C., Duffy remarked, “If this situation continues and more controllers can’t report for duty, we might find that 10% was just the beginning, and we may have to increase it to 15% or 20%.” Afterward, he clarified that he was discussing a hypothetical situation.

He explained to The Hill, “Can we get there? It’s possible. But there are no concrete plans for that. We continuously analyze data regarding controllers to ensure airspace safety. I hope we can avoid such drastic measures.”

Beginning Friday, airlines started implementing flight reductions at 40 U.S. airports, following FAA directives. This started with a 4% cut, which is scheduled to rise by 2% daily until it hits 10%.

Duffy also addressed accusations that the flight cuts might be a political strategy aimed at pressuring Senate Democrats into approving a “clean” stopgap bill proposed by Republicans. Despite concerns voiced by some Democrats, he emphasized that this is not a political issue. “We’ve received complaints saying, ‘We want data…this is political,'” he stated. “We’re focused on minimizing the impact on Americans.”

Although Duffy noted the agency is contemplating immediate 10% cuts, safety assessments warned that these could cause more complications.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), the leading Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called for the FAA to promptly share safety risk assessments regarding the decision. In contrast, Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona supported Duffy’s approach, asserting it’s crucial for public safety.

“People criticize me as if I’m doing something extraordinary, but it’s just about being transparent,” Duffy expressed.

During the event, he urged the Senate to remain in session, mentioning travelers facing issues at Reagan National Airport. “There are folks trying to get home for significant reasons. Why are senators flying away? Keep them here, especially those who voted against reopening the government,” he added.

In a lighthearted moment, Breitbart’s Matt Boyle suggested putting senators on a no-fly list to keep them in Washington. Duffy quipped back, “That would be great, well played.”

Regarding future negotiations on reopening the government, Duffy remarked, “I think it would be a mistake for Republicans to concede anything just to get the government running again.”

When asked about the timeline for resolving air traffic challenges once the government reopens post-flight reduction, Duffy stated, “We’ll review the data, assess where controllers are, and then allow airlines time to resume flights.”