According to the FAA, nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks.
WASHINGTON — Airspaces in some parts of the country may be forced to close if the ongoing government shutdown continues into next week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday.
“So, if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy said. “You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”
His comments came during an unrelated press conference to address a funding shortage for Philadelphia’s SEPTA transportation system.
The government shutdown has now dragged on for over a month, with Tuesday officially tying the record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record was set during Trump’s first presidency.
“Every day, these hard-working Americans have bills they have to pay, and they’re being forced to make decisions and choices. Do they go to work as an air traffic controller? Or do they have to find a different job to get resources, money, to put food on the table, to put gas in their car?” Duffy said. “As every day goes by, the problem is only going to get worse, not better.”
Staffing shortages have already caused flight delays at a growing number of airports in recent weeks, including Newark Airport in New Jersey, which saw delays of two to three hours on Sunday.
According to the FAA, nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks. The agency said on Friday that a surge in callouts has worsened the situation, with almost 80% of controllers in New York-area facilities being absent.
“The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they’ve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays,” the FAA said in a statement on Friday. “As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety. When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.”
Senate Democrats have repeatedly voted against a House-passed bill that would reopen the government, until Republicans, including Trump, engage them on extending health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
