The United States aviation system has been thrown into chaos as the ongoing government shutdown continues to cripple key federal operations, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The crisis stems from the suspension of government funding, which has forced partial or complete shutdowns of multiple agencies.
According to the FAA, flight delays and cancellations have surged nationwide due to a growing shortage of air traffic controllers. Many controllers are under extreme pressure and working without pay, as nearly 13,000 have been designated as “essential personnel”—a classification that requires them to continue working despite the shutdown.
Data from the real-time flight tracking platform FlightAware shows that between Friday and Sunday, more than 16,700 flights across the U.S. experienced delays, while 2,282 flights were cancelled entirely.
As of Monday evening, the situation had not improved. Major airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Dallas–Fort Worth, Denver, and New York, reported over 4,000 delayed and 600 cancelled flights in a single day.
The FAA reported severe staff shortages at most airports, with up to 80% absenteeism at facilities in the New York area. When staffing levels drop too low, air traffic flow must be reduced to maintain safety standards—further compounding delays and cancellations.
The agency warned that if the shutdown continues, the disruption to U.S. air travel could become even more severe. “Without an end to the shutdown, it will be increasingly difficult to ensure passenger safety and reduce delays,” the FAA said.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the FAA urged Congress to end the shutdown immediately so that aviation workers can receive their pay and passenger services can return to normal.
The U.S. government shutdown began on October 10 after Congress failed to pass a federal spending bill, leading to the suspension of many government operations and disruption of essential services, with growing impacts on the national economy.
Source: Al Jazeera.