Related videos:
The personnel shortage in air traffic control towers due to the U.S. government shutdown is beginning to cause temporary suspensions at key airports and widespread delays across the country.
According to the broadcaster CNN, the federal government shutdown in the United States is already having visible consequences on air transportation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that several airports are facing a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, which has forced operations to be suspended, control towers temporarily closed, and ground restrictions applied to dozens of flights in various parts of the country.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the busiest in the United States, was notified on Tuesday that it would not have enough staff in its control tower for at least nine hours.
The average delay on the ground for flights heading to O'Hare had already reached 41 minutes in the afternoon.
A similar situation occurred at Nashville airport, where the approach facility—responsible for guiding airplanes during their arrivals and departures—closed for five hours that same night.
Flights heading to the airport needed to coordinate with the regional air traffic control center in Memphis. Average delays of up to two hours were expected.
On Monday, in California, the tower at Hollywood Burbank International Airport also had to close.
In their absence, the pilots themselves took control using the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), a method typically employed at smaller, non-towered airports.
This situation, just a week after the start of the government shutdown, also impacts other key facilities, including Houston, Newark, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Jacksonville, Florida.
All of them operate with reduced staff in their control towers during part of the night, according to the FAA's operational plans.
In Florida, the city of Jacksonville was one of those mentioned as being affected by the lack of personnel in its air traffic control facilities.
Although complete closures were not specified, there is recognition of insufficient staffing during part of the night shift, which may lead to delays.
The cause of the crisis is the inability to cover all shifts due to the federal government shutdown, which prevents new hiring and affects the morale of the current staff.
Many drivers are considered essential employees, so they must continue working without salary guarantees while the budget shutdown lasts.
According to the cited television station, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the number of controllers reporting illness has increased since the shutdown began.
Although organized labor actions, such as strikes, are prohibited by law, even a small number of unscheduled absences can cause disruptions due to the structural staff shortages at the FAA.
"The system was already fragile," said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), in an interview with CNN.
"We have a critical shortage of staff and unreliable equipment. This pressure, this stress, is an unnecessary distraction that leads to fatigue," he emphasized.
The controllers have not yet stopped receiving their salaries, but uncertainty is growing as the payment dates approach.
If the shutdown continues, on October 14 only the work done before October 1 will be paid, and October 28 would be the first day they would not receive any income.
The situation also directly impacts air safety. In the case of Burbank, where pilots temporarily took over traffic management without tower support, there were over two and a half hours of flight delays during that period.
The measure forced pilots to coordinate their movements via radio on a common “chat line,” which adds an extra margin of risk.
"It is feasible, but not as certain as having complete air traffic control," warned transportation analyst Mary Schiavo, adding: "It's like the difference between a crossing guard and a stop sign."
Although the NATCA union advises its members against using medical leave as a form of protest, the fear of not receiving their paychecks is causing increasing uncertainty among the workers.
The government of President Donald Trump has stated that it will use tariff revenues to fund priority programs such as WIC (food assistance for women, infants, and children), but it has not provided specific guarantees for air traffic controllers or other federal employees required to work without pay.
Only on Monday night, at least 11 FAA facilities were operating with staffing shortages, including the towers in Phoenix, Denver, Newark, Jacksonville, Chicago, Washington, and Indianapolis.
As the closure extends, delays and intermittent shutdowns could become the norm in the national air network, affecting both flight operations and the overall safety of the system.
The federal government shutdown in the United States is already beginning to have tangible consequences in several key sectors.
The impact of the closure extends to the migration sphere. Immigration procedures are facing disruptions in services such as residency interviews, document renewals, and asylum hearings.
Although agencies like USCIS remain partially operational by funding themselves with fees, uncertainty has slowed down crucial processes for thousands of migrants, including Cubans with open cases.
Amid growing concern over the cumulative effects of the shutdown, President Donald Trump defended the measure, arguing that his administration is unwilling to continue funding unrestricted programs.
“We don’t want to give money away to other people”, he stated in reference to social programs and federal assistance. Meanwhile, sectors such as transportation, air security, and immigration management continue to operate under pressure, with exhausted staff and limited services.
Impact of the Government Shutdown on U.S. Air Traffic
How does the U.S. government shutdown affect airports?
The U.S. government shutdown is causing a shortage of air traffic controllers, leading to temporary closures of control towers and significant delays at key airports such as Chicago O'Hare and Nashville. This is due to a lack of sufficient staff to cover all shifts, as many controllers are working without guaranteed salaries, which increases stress and absenteeism.
What are the consequences for aviation security due to the government shutdown?
Aviation security is compromised because, in some cases, pilots must take control of air traffic using less secure methods, such as the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). This adds an additional risk compared to complete air traffic control. Furthermore, economic uncertainty and stress are affecting personnel morale, which could negatively impact safety.
Why can't new air traffic controllers be hired during the government shutdown?
The government shutdown prevents new hiring due to budgetary paralysis, exacerbating the existing shortage of air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This limits the ability to respond to emergencies and hinders the safe operation of flights across the country.
What is the government doing to address the air traffic controllers' crisis?
So far, no specific guarantees have been provided for air traffic controllers or other federal employees required to work without pay. The government has promised to use tariff revenues to fund some priority programs, but has not implemented concrete measures to address the staffing shortage in air traffic control, which remains a critical issue in political negotiations.
Filed under: