Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning that the nation’s air travel system could descend into “mass chaos” next week if the government shutdown continues and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck.
According to The Associated Press, the warning comes after a weekend of widespread flight delays and staffing shortages at airports across the country. On Sunday, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey saw hours-long delays as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily slowed or halted traffic due to a lack of controllers on duty.
FAA employees already missed one paycheck on Oct. 28, and their next is due next Tuesday — a deadline Duffy says could determine whether the aviation system holds together or grinds to a halt.
“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 said. “So 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.”
The secretary’s comments echo warnings from the air traffic controllers union, which says many workers are being pushed to their financial limits while being forced to work without pay.
So far, most disruptions have been scattered and short-lived, similar to what happens during a severe weather event. But industry experts say the situation could quickly deteriorate if the shutdown drags on, creating a ripple effect through the air travel network and putting even more pressure on Congress to strike a deal.
Major airlines, aviation unions, and the U.S. Travel Association are calling on lawmakers to end the shutdown immediately, citing mounting economic losses.
“With Thanksgiving, the busiest travel period of the year, imminently approaching, the consequences of a continued shutdown will be immediate, deeply felt by millions of American travelers, and economically devastating to communities in every state,” the U.S. Travel Association warned in a letter to Congress.
According to the group, the shutdown has already cost the economy more than $4 billion — a figure expected to grow if the stalemate stretches into the holiday season.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports that while overall on-time performance hasn’t yet fallen far below normal levels, signs of strain are growing. On Sunday, just 56% of flights departed on time from Newark, while Orlando logged about 70% — well below the typical 80% target.
By midday Tuesday, FlightAware tracked nearly 2,000 flight delays nationwide, with staffing shortages reported in Phoenix and weather-related slowdowns at Newark and LaGuardia.
If paychecks don’t arrive next week, Duffy cautioned, travelers could face far worse. The message from controllers, he said, is simple: one missed paycheck is survivable — two is not.
