U.S. Government Warns of Firing Air Traffic Controllers Amid Shutdown Disruptions

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air traffic controllers who repeatedly fail to report for duty during the ongoing government shutdown could face dismissal, as staffing shortages continue to disrupt air travel across the country. Speaking on Fox Business, Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot tolerate absenteeism, emphasizing the importance of dedication during this critical period.

According to the FAA, staffing issues have persisted for four consecutive days, affecting flights at Newark Airport and across the New York airspace. Since Monday, over 19,000 flights have been delayed, including 3,300 on Thursday alone. Most disruptions have been tied to reduced staffing as a small fraction of controllers fail to show up for work. Duffy praised the 90–95% of controllers who continue to work without pay, saying even a small number of absences can cause nationwide ripple effects.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) responded by reaffirming that established procedures exist to address misuse of sick leave. The union has consistently urged its members to remain on duty, warning that any form of job action during the shutdown is illegal and could result in termination from federal service.

The U.S. has faced a controller shortage for over a decade, with the FAA operating about 3,500 controllers below its staffing targets. Many employees have been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks, compounding the strain during the shutdown. Normally, around 5% of flight delays stem from staffing issues, but that figure has soared to 53% this week, Duffy revealed.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey has urged airlines to provide consumer refunds for FAA-related delays without unnecessary obstacles. During the 2019 shutdown, similar staffing shortages and unpaid labor led to severe air travel disruptions—an outcome the government hopes to avoid this time. Currently, around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are required to work without pay, underscoring the mounting pressure on the aviation system.