Transportation Secretary Warns of Thanksgiving Travel Disruptions

Washington – On Sunday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that many Americans may end up spending Thanksgiving away from their families due to the ongoing government shutdown, which is causing serious disturbances in air travel.

“In Atlanta yesterday, between 18 and 22 air traffic controllers didn’t report for duty. We had 81 staff on hand,” Duffy explained during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He noted that the situation is likely to worsen, stating, “If we look at the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, we anticipate only a slight reduction in air travel.”

Since the shutdown began on October 1, air traffic controllers have been working without pay. This shutdown, which reached a historic 40 days on Sunday, has spurred significant staffing problems.

As a consequence, many controllers have been seeking extra income through rideshare or food delivery services. Additionally, the number of early retirements among controllers has surged; Duffy reported that resignations have skyrocketed from about four daily before the shutdown to a staggering 15 to 20 now. This poses challenges for returning to normal staffing levels.

Before the shutdown, Duffy was focused on modernizing the air traffic control system and quickly training new controllers to counteract shortages. However, he warned that even once the government reopens, the airline industry will continue to feel the impacts of this prolonged disruption.

Last week, Duffy indicated that if the shutdown persists, as much as 20% of flights could be canceled, a situation underscored by 2,000 flight cancellations reported just on Saturday.

Despite these staffing challenges, Duffy assured the public that air travel remains safe. “We are working overtime to ensure travel is safe,” he stated. “Implementing staffing triggers everywhere would lead to reduced traffic, causing delays and more flight cancellations.”

This issue is expected to become even more critical as Thanksgiving approaches, a peak travel period in the U.S. “If this doesn’t get resolved, it could limit the number of planes in the air,” Duffy said, underscoring the potential impact on would-be travelers.

He also acknowledged that controllers face difficult economic choices: “They are making decisions to support their families but are confronted with genuine financial struggles.” Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced plans to temporarily suspend Senate activities until a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government is reached.