U.S. Airports Face Crisis: 13,835 Controllers to Work Unpaid Amid Government Shutdown
The Department of Transportation released a shutdown contingency plan Thursday that calls for the furlough of more than 10,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees if the partial government shutdown continues.
Under the plan, 13,835 air traffic controllers will be required to keep working without pay during the funding lapse, raising concerns about renewed strain on the U.S. aviation system.
The shutdown is expected to continue until at least Tuesday, with House Democrats not yet committing the votes needed to fast-track approval of a funding package to reopen the government.
“Portions of DOT are affected by a lapse in appropriations,” the agency said in a notice posted online. “Website information may be outdated, transactions may be delayed, and inquiries may not be answered until funding is restored.”
The aviation sector faced major disruptions during last year’s extended shutdown, including more than 4,500 canceled flights over one weekend in mid-November 2025.
Broader concerns about aviation safety have persisted over the past year following several high-profile incidents, including a deadly collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight in January 2025.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he hoped lawmakers would move quickly to end the shutdown. “So hopefully enough people will use their heads,” Trump stated. “A prolonged lapse in funding would be ‘not a good thing for the country.'”
