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Transportation Secretary: Air Traffic Controllers Are Mad, but Flying Is Safe
About 53% of flight delays are due to staffing shortages as 13,000 air traffic controllers work unpaid during the ongoing government shutdown, risking increased disruptions.
- On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that about 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay and taking second jobs amid the shutdown.
- The shutdown has left about 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay after receiving 90% pay earlier this month and facing a missed paycheck next Tuesday.
- Data from the department show about 53% of delays are due to staffing shortages, and the FAA operational policy to slow traffic for safety may cause cancellations, Sean Duffy said.
- As delays mount, hundreds of U.S. flights were delayed and at least seven canceled by 12:30 p.m. Thursday, while FlightAware recorded 19,000 delays and 1,600 cancellations from Saturday to Monday.
- Senate inaction has left legislative fixes stalled after failing the Shutdown Fairness Act, while Sean Duffy aims to hire 2,200 new controllers in 2026 and 8,900 through 2028.
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11 Articles
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UPDATE 1-US expects more flight delays as controllers soon to miss paychecks
(Adds details, background in paragraphs 3-11, comment from NATCA) * Air traffic absences accounted for 6.6% of delays Thursday * Airlines are worried about serious problems over the weekend * Union chief says some controllers work second jobs to pay bills By David Shepardson PHILADELPHIA, Oct 24 (Reuters) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday said he expects more flights to be delayed, with air traffic controllers set to miss thei…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
11%
C 56%
R 33%
Factuality
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