Flight delays pile up as authorities shutdown enters second month

As the federal government shutdown nears its second month, airports throughout the nation are feeling its affect, with flight delays piling up due to staffing shortages.

This weekend noticed essentially the most troublesome journey situations but at dozens of American airports amid the shutdown, with traces of pissed off vacationers appeared countless. More than 5,000 flights touring from and to U.S. airports had been delayed Sunday alone, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stated it screened practically 2.7 million individuals across the nation. As the shutdown drags on, extra delays and cancellations might be anticipated, in response to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Air visitors controllers, who’re relied on to coordinate plane throughout the airspace and are required to work as important employees throughout a authorities shutdown, have been working with out pay. Duffy stated he needs them to return to work, including that those that don’t will obtain a disappointing paycheck on the finish of the week.

“None of them can miss two paychecks,” Duffy stated on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday. “They all start — their home finances fall apart, and they’re all going to have to look at taking second jobs or quitting and getting into another line of work. And the consequence of that is very real for our air system.”

Duffy underscored the dire want for air visitors controllers, including that the system is brief wherever from 2,000 to three,000 controllers.

“I’m trying to put more air traffic controllers into the system,” he stated.

On Monday night, greater than 2,885 flights touring inside, to and out of U.S. airports had been delayed, and 70 had been canceled, in response to FlightAware.com. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport account for many of it, with over 900 delays and 35 cancellations between them.

It shouldn’t be instantly clear if staffing shortages straight brought about the delays and cancellations Monday.

According to latest delay knowledge from the Department of Transportation (DOT), 84% of whole delay minutes on Sunday had been attributed to staffing. On Saturday, 59% of whole delay minutes had been attributed to staffing, and 64.8% had been on Friday.

“From January to September 2025 (before the shutdown), only 5% of delays were caused by staffing issues,” the DOT stated.

The White House launched a press release Monday blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown that has brought about the mass delays.

“Americans are paying the price for Democrats’ sick political games as air travel grinds to a halt amid the Democrat-driven chaos,” the assertion learn.

The unpredictable flight schedule has pissed off vacationers. Many are questioning the security of air journey if management towers will not be absolutely staffed.

Duffy stated delays and cancellations are an try to make air journey safer.

“You’ll see more delays, you’ll see more cancellations of flights, and that’s because we slow traffic down because we don’t have enough controllers in the towers and TRACONs to make sure we can navigate the flights,” he stated, referring to terminal radar strategy management services. “So, that’s a tool that we have to keep the system safe.”

If air journey was unsafe, the DOT would “shut the whole airspace down,” Duffy stated.

“We won’t let people travel,” he stated. “We’re not there at this point. It’s just significant delays.”