Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a roundtable at the White House on Thursday to discuss the impact of the government shutdown on the aviation industry. The meeting was attended by airline leaders, politicians, and industry insiders.
According to Secretary Duffy, the shutdown has already caused delays and cancellations for travelers due to the effects on airspace. This is particularly concerning for air traffic controllers, who are required to work during the shutdown but are not receiving pay. This week, they missed their first full paycheck.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and industry experts warn that the shutdown, combined with existing staffing shortages, could lead to even more delays in the future. Michael McCormick, a retired FAA vice president and current aviation professor, explained that air traffic controllers thrive on control and do not do well in uncertain situations. He also noted that the New York metropolitan area, which has the busiest and most complex airspace in the world, could be significantly affected by the staffing shortage.
Already facing high levels of work stress, air traffic controllers are now also dealing with personal stress and financial concerns. McCormick pointed out that this can be a distraction from their primary focus on ensuring safety in the air traffic environment.
According to the Department of Transportation, staffing shortages have been responsible for an average of 5% of flight delays this year. However, on Sunday, that number jumped to 44%. As the budget standoff continues, these numbers are expected to worsen.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, explained that reducing the number of flights may be necessary to ensure safety if staffing issues continue. However, the shutdown is also affecting the ability to recruit new controllers for the 3,000 open positions, particularly in the tri-state area. Higher living costs and the lengthy certification process make it difficult to attract new controllers to these locations.
One of the challenges is that air traffic controllers are trained to work at specific locations and cannot easily be transferred to fill staffing gaps at other airports. The Department of Transportation and the NATC Union have both emphasized that safety is their top priority and will not be compromised, even if it means reducing the number of flights at understaffed airports.
As the shutdown continues, air traffic controllers are dealing with ongoing staffing shortages, long working hours, and the added stress of not knowing when or if they will be paid. This not only affects their personal lives, but also their ability to focus on their demanding and crucial role in ensuring the safety of air travel.