Flights across the United States faced mounting delays and disruptions Tuesday night as a shortage of air traffic controllers continued to strain operations at several major airports, the Federal Aviation Administration warned.
At Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, one of the country’s busiest hubs, the FAA said there would not be enough controllers in the tower for nine hours overnight. In Nashville, the facility guiding aircraft in and out of the airport was forced to close for five hours due to excessive staff absences, forcing incoming flights to coordinate with a regional center in Memphis.
Ground delays averaged 41 minutes for flights headed to O’Hare and two hours for those bound for Nashville, according to FAA operations reports. The shortages have now spread nationwide, affecting approach and departure facilities in Houston, Newark, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
The staffing crisis has worsened as the government shutdown entered its seventh day. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that more controllers are calling out sick, adding to the pressure on the already stretched system. “This is their living. They’re concerned now if they don’t get their paychecks, how do I pay my mortgage? How do I pay my car payment? What do I do to put food on the table?” Duffy said on Fox News.
Air traffic controllers, like TSA officers, are considered essential employees and must continue working despite the shutdown. Although organized strikes or coordinated absences are prohibited by federal law, the tight staffing means even a few unplanned absences can cause widespread disruptions.
Controllers have yet to miss a paycheck, but anxiety is rising as the next payday approaches on October 14. If the shutdown continues, controllers will only receive pay for hours worked before the government closure. By October 28, they risk receiving no pay at all.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), said the situation underscores how fragile the system has become. “We are critically staffed with unreliable equipment, and we deal with these issues,” Daniels told CNN. “These types of scenarios aren’t a new creation; they are a reality that air traffic controllers face day in and day out.”
The Department of Transportation confirmed a growing number of controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began. However, NATCA urged members not to misuse sick leave or engage in any behavior that could be seen as a protest. “We cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our Union, or our professions,” the group said in a message to members.
Former DOT Inspector General and CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo said that while sick leave is allowed for legitimate reasons, any abuse of it can have serious consequences. “In the federal government, if you’re out for sick leave for more than three days, you have to have a doctor’s note,” she said. “Taking sick leave when you’re not sick is always a bad idea.”
Despite the precautions, Daniels said the absences are not unexpected given the stress and fatigue controllers face. “This pressure, this stress is an unnecessary distraction, this leading to fatigue — all these factors are real things that we’re having to face,” he said.
The shutdown’s impact reached California on Monday when the entire control tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport was forced to close due to insufficient staffing. Pilots had to take over communication duties themselves using a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF), a system typically used at small, untowered airports.
“It’s doable but it adds a margin of danger,” Schiavo said, comparing the situation to replacing a crossing guard with a stop sign. During the six-hour closure, Burbank managed 70 flights, but delays stretched to more than two and a half hours, according to FlightAware.
Similar staffing shortfalls were reported at FAA facilities in Phoenix, Denver, Newark, Jacksonville, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Indianapolis.
As the shutdown continues, experts warn that even a small uptick in absences could have cascading effects on the nation’s air travel system. “Burbank tower having to go ATC Zero tonight isn’t something that’s abnormal,” Daniels said. “These are things that we deal in, day in and day out.”
For now, the FAA is working to redistribute staff and minimize disruptions, but officials caution that if the funding stalemate persists, passengers should brace for longer delays, canceled flights, and reduced airspace efficiency across the country.
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