Air traffic controller staffing shortages are growing worse as the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, causing delays, and analysts warn the problem isn’t likely to get better in the near future. Dozens of staffing shortages were reported over the weekend, impacting flights in major cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Air traffic controllers are designated as essential workers, so they are required to work amid the shutdown, even without pay.
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Flights from LA to DC disrupted
Flights in Los Angeles were disrupted on Sunday due to staffing shortages in Southern California, and Reagan National Airport reportedly issued a temporary ground delay due to a lack of workers.
Straight Arrow News reached out to LAX for confirmation of the disruption, but a spokesperson for the airport said that the issue stemmed from Oakland and could only confirm one impacted flight from the issue. Other outlets had reported a temporary grounding of incoming flights at LAX on Sunday.
Since Oct. 1, when the government shutdown began, there have been more than 260 incidents of staffing issues at Federal Aviation Administration centers, according to CNN. That’s reportedly more than four times the number of staffing problems documented during the same time period last year.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Fox News on Sunday that working without pay is causing burnout among air traffic controllers, and many are seeking second jobs to make ends meet during the shutdown.
“Just yesterday… we had 22 staffing triggers,” he told Fox News. “That’s one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began.”
Staffing shortages to grow, experts warn
Aviation safety analysts told CNN that they expect the staffing shortages to continue as people call in sick due to “burnout.” In the past, government shutdowns have come to an end after air traffic controllers and TSA agents failed to show up for work, marking a breaking point for lawmakers. A 35-day government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 ended after 10 air traffic controllers called in, and as TSA staffing shortages impacted some of the country’s busiest airports.
Analysts note that just a handful of air traffic controllers calling out sick can cause delays. Air traffic controllers are legally restricted from going on strike, but some have found work-arounds by using so-called “sickouts.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, however, warned in a statement that it does “not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent.” The NAS added that such actions could result in “removal” for employees.
Despite the warning, analysts predict that the United States will see more staffing shortages by way of “sickouts,” as they say many air traffic controllers who are still early in their careers see low wages and may already be struggling financially.
Thousands of flights impacted as travelers hope for best
According to FlightAware, nearly 9,000 flights in or out of the United States were delayed due to staffing issues and weather, and more than 1,600 U.S. flights were delayed as of Monday morning. So far, 2025 is reportedly experiencing the “tardiest” second quarter since 2014.
Meanwhile, passengers say they’re holding out hope that their travel plans won’t be upended.
One traveler, Connie, told CNN that she flew on Sunday “on sheer faith” and understood the frustration that unpaid air traffic controllers must be going through.
“If I weren’t getting paid, I would be very angry, and that would make it difficult to do my job,” she said. “I’m hoping someone is taking care of them.”
