Trump Official Issues Air Journey Security Warning Amid Government Shutdown

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Monday that the continued authorities shutdown is creating critical security considerations for air journey, as air site visitors controllers are being pressured to work with out pay whereas contemplating taking further jobs to make ends meet.

During a press convention at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, Duffy expressed alarm that controllers could have to work whereas exhausted and financially confused, probably compromising their capacity to securely handle airspace.

The warning comes because the shutdown entered its sixth day with no significant negotiations between events. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, instructed reporters that Democrats wanted to “stop the madness” and go a stopgap spending invoice, whereas President Donald Trump indicated that federal job cuts have been “taking place right now,” blaming Democrats for the deadlock.

Government Shutdown Could Impact Air Traffic Control: What We Know

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), representing greater than 13,000 controllers, has urged its members to stay on the job regardless of the shortage of pay, warning that participation in any job motion might lead to elimination from federal service, based on Reuters.

The shutdown’s affect on air site visitors management extends past speedy security considerations to broader systemic points. Essential air service funding might be affected as early as Sunday, after officers discovered emergency funds to increase operations from an preliminary Thursday deadline.

Duffy emphasised that whereas controllers are required to report for obligation as a part of vital infrastructure, they face the burden of monetary uncertainty whereas performing high-stakes work.

“We want them to leave their personal problems at the door when they go into a tower or into a facility,” Duffy stated Monday. “They’ve expressed those concerns to me. They are gonna be there. They’re gonna continue to work. But some of them were saying, ‘I might have to pick up Uber jobs.'”

Airlines for America, representing main carriers together with United, Delta, American, and Southwest Airlines, has warned that funding lapses could pressure the system to decelerate, decreasing effectivity and considerably impacting vacationers.

The group emphasised that any discount in air site visitors management capability might create cascading delays all through the nationwide airspace system.

Who Gets Paid During the Government Shutdown?

Under present shutdown protocols, air site visitors controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are labeled as important staff who should report back to obligation however won’t obtain paychecks till the shutdown ends.

This creates extreme monetary hardship for roughly 63,000 aviation safety professionals who preserve the security and effectivity of U.S. air journey.

Is the Government Shutdown Still Happening?

The authorities shutdown stays in impact as of Monday, with no speedy decision in sight. Congressional leaders have offered few public indicators of significant negotiations, with Johnson insisting “there’s nothing for us to negotiate” and that “the House has done its job.” The House is just not anticipated to be in session this week, shifting focus to the Senate for potential management on any deal.

Democrats are demanding renewal of medical health insurance subsidies for thousands and thousands of households, whereas Trump desires to protect current spending ranges, believing Democrats will fold because of dangers to jobs and federal tasks. The stalemate has been exacerbated by the Trump administration’s unprecedented risk to impose everlasting job cuts on hundreds of presidency staff through the shutdown.

Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, famous that the administration has additionally stopped congressionally accredited spending, undermining the worth of in search of compromises because the administration might block spending from any deal.

When Could the Government Shutdown End?

No definitive timeline exists for ending the present shutdown. House Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries of New York revealed there have been no talks with Republican leaders since their White House assembly on September 29, saying Republicans “have gone radio silent.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, indicated the Senate would vote once more Monday on a Republican invoice to reopen the federal government after it did not safe the mandatory 60 votes on Friday.

The 2019 precedent, when pressure on the aviation system helped pressure a decision after a 35-day shutdown, gives a possible framework for understanding how lengthy the present disaster would possibly final.

What People Are Saying

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated through the Monday press convention: “So, how long can the system run safely? So, for essential air service, that is going to be impacted as of Sunday. It was going to be Thursday. We found some more money to put into it. We’re trying to do the best we can to keep this process with minimal impact. The controllers have to show up for work. They have to come to work. They’re part of our critical infrastructure. The problem is, they’re going show up for work, and they’re not going to get paychecks.”

He added: “And like everybody here, these are working men and women who rely on their paychecks, and they set up their payments consistent with when their paychecks are going to come in. And they’re going to do the work, they’re not going get the check, and again, they have bills they have to pay. So now they’re thinking about that at the same time that they’re controlling the airspace, which I don’t like that.”

National Air Traffic Controllers Association instructed Reuters: “It is more important than ever that we rise to the occasion and continue delivering the consistent, high-level of public service we provide every day. We cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our professions.”

What Happens Next?

Aviation stakeholders are intently monitoring every day operations for indicators of system pressure whereas transportation officers proceed trying to find emergency funding sources.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this text.

Update 10/6/25, 3:25 p.m. ET: This article has been up to date with further info.