FAA Issues Urgent Alert: Nationwide Flight Delays Loom as Government Shutdown Strains Air Traffic Control

By Michael Katz | Friday, 31 October 2025 09:58 PM EDT

The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday issued an operations advisory warning of staffing shortages — or “staffing triggers” — at multiple major air-traffic-control facilities due to the ongoing government shutdown. The alert raised concerns that flight delays could spread nationwide through the Halloween weekend.

The advisory, released by the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center, identified staffing triggers affecting key control sectors, including the New York Center, Area D; Philadelphia, Area C; Washington National Airport operations; Boston TRACON; and Minneapolis Center, Area 1. The FAA uses the term “staffing trigger” to signal when controller levels at a facility fall below planned minimums, which can lead to flight-flow restrictions or rerouting for safety.

The shutdown, now in its 31st day, has left thousands of federal employees — including air-traffic controllers — working without pay as Congress remains deadlocked over a funding bill. The FAA stated that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system.

“The surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple facilities, leading to widespread impacts across the NAS,” the agency said. “Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80% of air traffic controllers are absent at New York-area facilities.” The FAA emphasized that after 31 days without pay, controllers face immense stress and fatigue, urging an end to the shutdown to restore pay and prevent further disruptions.

When staffing shortages occur, the FAA may reduce air traffic flow, causing delays or cancellations. A 2024 report highlighted that staffing deficits at high-volume facilities accounted for about 40% of system-wide delays. Despite efforts to accelerate controller training and reassignments, the agency warned it could take years to rebuild workforce levels to pre-pandemic standards.

For travelers, the advisory underscores that delays are not always weather-related. The FAA recommended monitoring flight-status updates at Fly.FAA.gov and allowing extra time for travel over the holiday weekend. Major Northeast corridor hubs, including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C., face heightened risk due to current staffing levels, heavy traffic volumes, and ongoing runway maintenance.

Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting on news, culture, and politics.