Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explains why worldwide flights received’t be impacted by shutdown chaos. (Credit score: FBN)
The longest authorities shutdown in U.S. historical past is exacerbating the already dire state of affairs at management towers throughout the nation, a retired air visitors controller stated.
Whereas the Federal Aviation Administration stated it should cut back air visitors by 10% throughout 40 high-volume markets to take care of security amid the shutdown and ongoing air visitors management staffing shortages, Stephen Abraham, who labored as a controller at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York for over 20 years earlier than retiring, stated the transfer is extra like a Band-Assist to stop a meltdown.
“It does not resolve the disaster, it simply prevents a whole meltdown,” stated Abraham, who stated staffing hasn’t been enough in a long time.
Air visitors controllers are categorised as important employees, which means that they’re required to maintain working even when the federal government isn’t funding common operations. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name Inc by way of Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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“They’re actually overworked. They’re fatigued,” Abraham stated.
Air visitors controllers are categorised as important employees, which means that they’re required to maintain working even when the federal government isn’t funding common operations. They’ve now gone greater than a month with out a paycheck.
Individuals stroll by way of the Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on Nov. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Stress and fatigue rise as a result of controllers are already working lengthy hours with staffing shortages, and now they’re apprehensive about payments and monetary survival, which suggests some might name out sick or take unscheduled depart – not essentially out of protest, however as a result of they’re exhausted, mentally strained or coping with monetary hardship.
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“If you happen to do not sleep actual effectively, I am not going to work the subsequent day,” he stated. “It is actually simply that straightforward as a result of you possibly can’t mail it in. It simply does not work in that occupation. You possibly can’t mail it in… daily must be an ‘A’ day. You aren’t getting ‘B’ days.”
Individuals stroll by way of the Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on November 07, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
And with no back-up workers, it is creating “an untenable state of affairs,” Abraham stated.
Greater than 3.2 million airline passengers have been impacted by delays or cancellations attributed to staffing shortages tied to air visitors controller staffing points for the reason that authorities shutdown started on Oct. 1, trade commerce group Airways for America stated.
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The problems have grow to be so vital that Frontier Airways CEO Barry Biffle stated on Instagram that he extremely recommends vacationers purchase an additional ticket.
Individuals stroll to a safety checkpoint on the Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on November 07, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
“In case you are flying Friday or within the subsequent 10 days, and have to be there or don’t wish to be stranded, I extremely advocate reserving a backup ticket on one other provider,” wrote Biffle.
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Reuters contributed to this report.