Government Shutdown Grounds Air Traffic Amid Staffing Crisis

Mon Oct 20 2025 22:47:39 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As the U.S. government shutdown continues, air travel faces significant disruptions due to a lack of air traffic controllers, resulting in increased delays and potential safety threats.

The recent government shutdown has turned the spotlight on America's strained aviation system, already suffering from chronic understaffing. A control tower in Los Angeles went silent for hours, highlighting the issue, while delays and unscheduled absences among TSA workers threaten security. Experts warn that the ongoing crisis could worsen unless critical staffing and technology upgrades are prioritized.

A startling message came over the radio from an air traffic control tower near Los Angeles less than a week into the federal government shutdown: “The tower is closed due to staffing.”

With insufficient air traffic controllers to manage flights at Hollywood Burbank Airport, operations halted for almost six hours, leading to average flight delays of 2.5 hours. Similar issues are proliferating across the U.S., from Boston to Atlanta, indicating the shutdown's impact on air travel.

Unsatisfactory staffing at TSA also led to increased unscheduled absences among security workers, while union representatives warned of lengthier wait times at checkpoints as employee paychecks ceased.

Experts point to this crisis as a long-running issue, with the FAA facing a shortfall of around 3,000 controllers and outdated technology amplifying the problems. It’s like having a drought the year after you had a drought, remarked Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group.

Before the shutdown, the aviation sector was attempting to address staffing shortages and modernize equipment, but these efforts now face further delays. Union leaders fear the ongoing shutdown could worsen conditions for air travel, as many critically affected professionals may consider leaving their jobs amidst the uncertainty and inadequate support.