Washington — The ongoing government shutdown is placing the nation’s aviation system under increasing strain, as critical personnel work without pay, leading to staff shortages, significant travel delays, and growing concerns over safety.
Since the shutdown began over a month ago, essential employees like air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners have been required to report to work, but they will not receive their paychecks until the government reopens. The resulting financial hardship has reportedly forced some to take on second jobs or call out from work, thinning the ranks of staff at critical posts.
The union representing air traffic controllers warns that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the risks to the aviation system. “Every single day that this goes on, tomorrow is now less safe than today,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told CNN. “We’re supposed to go to work and be 100%, 100% of the time. I’m going to work right now, and I’m thinking about, how do I pay my rent?”
For travelers, the impact is already clear, with sharply rising TSA wait times and flight delays. Airports in Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Newark have experienced widespread shortages, causing ground delays and passenger disruption. At Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport, passengers were warned of potential three-hour waits at security checkpoints.
Transportation officials acknowledged the increased risk but maintained that safety is not being compromised. They explained that flights are being intentionally slowed down to a rate that the available staff can safely manage. “If we thought that it was unsafe… we’ll shut the whole airspace down,” an official stated on CNBC, adding, “We’re not there at this point. It’s just significant delays.”
However, industry experts argue that the system’s reliability is eroding. “The challenge is that the system is never going to compromise safety, but we’re absolutely compromising predictability and the ability of Americans to get to where they want to go on time,” said Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association.
Mike McCormick, an assistant professor of Air Traffic Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, suggested that controllers who feel unable to perform their duties under such stress are acting responsibly by calling out sick. “From what I’m seeing across the system, controllers are recognizing their limitations, and they’re not reporting to work, so that is actually helping to keep the system safe,” McCormick said.
Keith Jeffries, a former TSA federal security director, predicted that staff call-outs will continue to rise, creating a “domino effect” throughout the aviation system. While he believes flying remains safe, he questioned whether frontline employees can remain fully focused on security threats while worrying about unpaid bills.
Union leaders and major airlines agree on the solution. “Our message is simple,” Daniels said. “Open the government, and it has to open now.”
