Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns of ‘mass chaos’ in skies if shutdown continues

Air Traffic Controller Shortage Could Lead to “Chaos in the Skies” as Shutdown Continues

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that the nation’s air travel system could face significant disruption next week if the ongoing government shutdown prevents air traffic controllers from receiving a second paycheck.

Airports across the country have already experienced numerous delays—sometimes stretching for hours—as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been forced to temporarily reduce or halt traffic due to controller shortages. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey saw some of the most severe disruptions last weekend, with flights delayed for several hours on Sunday.

“Many of the controllers said ‘A lot of us can navigate missing one paycheck. Not everybody, but a lot of us can. None of us can manage missing two paychecks,'” Duffy explained. FAA employees missed their first paycheck on October 28, with the next payday scheduled for Tuesday.

The Transportation Secretary offered a stark prediction: “If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have air traffic controllers.”

While most flight disruptions during the shutdown have been isolated and temporary, industry experts fear the situation could deteriorate rapidly. If delays become more widespread and cascade throughout the national airspace system, political pressure on Congress to end the impasse will intensify.

Both Duffy and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have urged controllers to continue reporting for work despite the financial strain. However, the potential for coordinated sick calls across specific regions remains a concern that could amplify existing staffing shortages.

Mike McCormick, a former FAA air traffic control manager and current professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explained that closing portions of airspace is a standard procedure during severe weather events. He noted the FAA may implement similar measures if controller shortages affect regional radar centers that direct high-altitude traffic across the country.

The economic impact of the shutdown on the travel industry has already reached alarming levels. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the economy has lost more than $4 billion due to the shutdown. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the association warned of “immediate, deeply felt” consequences for millions of American travelers if the shutdown extends into the Thanksgiving holiday period, traditionally the busiest travel time of the year.

Major airlines, aviation unions, and travel industry groups have been urging Congress to pass the clean funding resolution proposed by Republicans to end the shutdown as quickly as possible.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that despite the disruptions, the overall percentage of on-time flights has not fallen significantly below the industry’s 80% target. However, there have been notable exceptions: on Sunday, only 56% of Newark’s departures were on time, while Orlando reported just 70% of flights departing on schedule.

As of midday Tuesday, FlightAware.com tracked 1,932 flight delays across the United States—lower than typical daily figures, though the FAA reported ongoing delays in Phoenix due to staffing shortages. Additional delays at Newark and LaGuardia airports were attributed to strong winds.

The aviation system’s resilience is being tested as the shutdown continues, with industry officials increasingly concerned about reaching a breaking point that could severely disrupt national air travel and further damage the economy. With each passing day, the pressure grows on both the administration and Congress to find a resolution before the system faces the “mass chaos” Secretary Duffy has warned about.